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to cut somebody off with a cent
01
to disinherit or withdraw financial support from a family member as a way to express disapproval or to enforce certain behaviors or decisions
Dialect
American
American![to [cut] {sb} off with a (cent|penny) definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/40235/original/?type=jpeg "to [cut] {sb} off with a (cent|penny) definition and meaning")
Disapproving
Idiom
Informal
What is the origin of the idiom "cut one off with a cent" and when to use it?
The idiom "cut one off with a cent" is thought to have originated in the 18th century. It is believed to be a reference to the fact that a cent was a small amount of money, and therefore not enough to live on. It is used to describe someone who has been disowned by their family and left with no financial support, which is often used in a negative way, to suggest that the person has been treated unfairly.
Examples
His father threatened to cut him off with a cent if he didn't change his behavior.
