Cut (off)

As a detective, my first step was to analyze the crossword clue carefully. The word ‘cut’ was clear, but the insertion of (off) made me think about words that could fit the context. Cutting off is a verb used for chopping something off, so I tried to come up with words that mean the same thing. ‘LOP‘ came to mind, which means to cut or chop off the top or branches of a tree, plant or animal. The word ‘lop‘ fits the context and is a perfect match for the crossword clue. By relying on my logical analysis of the context and my knowledge of synonyms, I was able to deduce the correct answer, thereby successfully solving the mystery of the crossword clue ‘Cut (off)’.