throw off

verb

threw off; thrown off; throwing off; throws off

transitive verb

1

a

: to free oneself from : get rid of

threw off his inhibitions

b

: to cast off often in a hurried or vigorous manner : abandon

threw off all restraint

c

: distract, divert

dogs thrown off by a false scent

2

: emit, give off

stacks throwing off plumes of smoke

3

: to produce in an offhand manner : execute with speed or facility

some little … tune that the composer had thrown off

—James Hilton

4

a

: to cause to depart from an expected or desired course

mistakes threw his calculations off a bit

b

: to cause to make a mistake : mislead

5

: earn, generate

an investment that throws off a sizable income

intransitive verb

1

: to begin hunting

2

: to make derogatory comments

Synonyms

• abstract
• call off
• detract
• distract
• divert

Examples of throw off in a Sentence

the sudden noise just threw me off completely, and I missed my shot

Recent Examples on the Web

Indeed, there was no shortage of players and personnel who wanted to see Cobb, once again, throw off a mound. —Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 11 June 2024

Shortly after his January meeting with the commission, Matias was thrown off the ballot for the District 17 seat following concerns about the signatures. —Vanessa Swales, Journal Sentinel, 28 May 2024

Things aren’t looking great for Soo or Savannah, who slices her hand open while deboning the fish, injuring herself badly enough that she’s totally thrown off from her cooking groove. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 May 2024

Despite better-than-expected revenue, sales have been hindered in the U.S. by consumers thrown off by the company’s price increases. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

Kids Definition

throw off

verb

: to send out : emit

a sparkler throws off sparks