curtail

Everyday

1. (formal) To cut something short or make it smaller, less or shorter, often against people's wishes. tree →
2. (formal) To limit or reduce someone's freedom or power. tree →

In the lessons

In news and the formal exam voice it means «cut» or «limit»: a match curtailed by rain, spending curtailed, freedoms curtailed. In stories it tells the reader something good ended early. Common objects: a visit, a trip, a holiday, spending, rights, activities.

Examples

• Rain curtailed the cricket match. tree →
• The school trip was curtailed because a storm was coming. tree →
• The council has curtailed spending on the parks. tree →
• (formal) The new rules curtail the use of phones in class. tree →
• Our holiday was curtailed when Grandma fell ill. tree →
• The king tried to curtail the power of the lords. tree →
• (formal) Candidates must curtail their answers to two hundred words. tree →
• I have reduced the pieces of advice to three, and curtailed somewhat. tree →

Note

Formal; in everyday talk say «cut short» or «cut back». Not related to animal tails, though the word sounds like it. In maths problems, if something is curtailed, the amount or time goes down.