Cut off a bit (5)

I believe the answer is:

apart

'cut off' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a bit' is the wordplay.
'bit' becomes 'part' (I've seen this before).
'a'+'part'='APART'

(Other definitions for apart that I've seen before include "First Christmas present from my love" , "Estranged - in pieces" , "set aside" , "divorced" , "Separately, aside" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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