Definition of the word choke off

The phrase "choke off" is a figurative expression derived from the meaning of the verb "choke," which refers to the physical act of preventing the passage of air or fluid into the throat or windpipe. When we say "choke off" in a figurative sense, we mean to cut off or stop something from continuing or developing further. This expression originated in the late 1800s, and its first known usage appeared in a newspaper report in 1880. In the article, the author described a plan to "choke off" a river by building a dam. It has been used metaphorically ever since to describe actions or measures that aim to curtail or limit various processes or activities.