sawed-off

Thân thiện

A carpenter uses a sawed-off broomstick to prop open a window.

Definition

Adjective 1. Having been shortened by cutting; cut short. This describes an object whose length has been reduced, typically by sawing or cutting. 2. (Informal) Well below average height; short in stature. This is a figurative, often informal or humorous, way to describe a person of short height.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Cut short):
  • The police found a sawed-off shotgun in the suspect's car.
  • He used a sawed-off broomstick to prop open the door.
• Adjective (Short in stature):
  • Despite being a sawed-off fellow, he had an imposing presence. (Informal)

Advanced Usage

• The term is most commonly and specifically associated with illegally modified firearms, such as a "sawed-off shotgun." This usage carries strong connotations of criminal activity.
• When used to describe a person ("a sawed-off man"), it is informal and can be considered mildly derogatory or humorous depending on context.

Variants and Related Words

• Sawn-off: This is the standard past participle form used in British English (e.g., "a sawn-off shotgun"). "Sawed-off" is standard in American English.
• Shortened (adj): A more general and neutral synonym for "cut short."
  • The shortened rope was easier to use.

Synonyms

• For "cut short": Truncated, abbreviated, cropped, cut down.
• For "short in stature": Short, petite, diminutive, stubby (informal).

Related Phrases

• Sawed-off shotgun (n): A shotgun whose barrel has been shortened illegally, typically to conceal it and widen its shot pattern at close range.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. cut short
   • a sawed-off shotgun
   • a sawed-off broomstick
   • the shortened rope was easier to use
2. well below average height

Từ đồng nghĩa

• sawn-off
• shortened
• pint-size
• pint-sized
• runty