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to cast away

to cast away

4 4.1
To throw away things you no longer want
  • phrasal verb
  • /kæst əˈweɪ/
translation icon : deshacerse de
  • She decided to cast away old clothes that she no longer wears.

Do I hate my things that much that I need to cast them away onto the storage island?

Examples

  • I think it's best if you simply cast them away.

  • Life is such a generous giver, but we, judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly, heavy, or hard.

    Blog text (10)
  • Do I hate my things that much that I need to cast them away onto the storage island?

  • "You must have no hatred in your hearts, and you must cast away all fear."

    Blog text (29)
  • One of the workshop's participants said the training session was an opportunity to cast away doubts on issues they had.

    Blog text (31)
  • We are symbolically casting away our sins of the past year, starting to think about how we can be better people next year.

    Blog text (10)
  • I firmly see that the golden age is coming; we just need to work a little bit more on ourselves and cast away the residual fear.

    Blog text (34)
  • He calls people to grow up, to join those who have grown up, and to cast away superstition and embrace reason.

    Blog text (34)
  • It's important to cast away any doubts before taking the exam.

  • Before moving, he cast away the clutter that had accumulated over the years.

Synonyms

to get rid of
vsto cast away
1.6

To remove or throw away something you do not want

focuses more on physically throwing away objects rather than general removal
to abandon
vsto cast away
773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

is about actively throwing away items, not abandoning people
to dump
vsto cast away
541 2.6

To drop or throw things away in a careless way

is similar but does not necessarily imply carelessness in the act
to throw away
vsto cast away
477 1.8

To get rid of something you do not want, for example by putting it in the bin

is broader and can imply any way of getting rid, not only bin disposal
to toss
vsto cast away
348 1.0

To throw something lightly to another person

is similar but often implies a more deliberate disposal action
to throw out
vsto cast away
202 1.8

To put something in the trash because you do not want it

is similar but can be used more generally, not only physical disposal
to shed
vsto cast away
131 3.5

To get rid of something you do not need

is similar but usually implies intentional physical throwing away
to discard
vsto cast away
130 2.7

To throw something away because you no longer want or need it

has the same idea but often carries a stronger sense of rejection
to dispose of
vsto cast away
56 4.1

Deal with and finish a problem or task so it no longer causes trouble

is narrower, mainly about discarding unwanted physical things
to shake off
vsto cast away
41 3.6

Make something unwanted go away, like an illness, a feeling, or a person following you

is mainly about discarding physical unwanted things rather than influences
to toss out
vsto cast away
39 2.7

To throw away things you do not want

is nearly the same but sometimes implies stronger abandonment
to cast
vsto cast away
38 4.0

To take off or throw away something

is nearly identical but the key stresses throwing away more explicitly
to trash
vsto cast away
  • US
34 1.0

To throw away something you no longer want

is nearly the same but sometimes more informal in tone
to cast out
vsto cast away
31 6.2

Force someone to leave a group or place because others reject them

is about discarding unwanted items rather than excluding people socially
to scrap
vsto cast away
30 3.7

To throw away something that is no longer useful

shares removal focus but includes breaking apart, not just discarding
to jettison
vsto cast away
29 7.8

Throw things from a ship or plane to make it lighter

shares removal idea but covers general throwing away, not only to lighten load
to banish
vsto cast away
27 6.1

Make a thought or feeling go away so it stops bothering you

is more often about throwing physical objects away than removing feelings
to junk
vsto cast away
13 3.0

To throw away things that are no longer useful

is similar but can be used for temporary or casual disposal too
to cast aside
vsto cast away
  • Informal
11 3.7

Reject or ignore people and things you no longer want

focuses more on physical throwing away rather than social rejection or ignoring
to clean out
vsto cast away
  • Informal
10 3.6

Remove people completely from a place or group because they are unwanted

is similar but can apply outside physical spaces as well
to toss away
vsto cast away
5 2.0

To throw something away because you no longer want or need it

is similar yet can carry a firmer sense of permanent disposal
to cast off
vsto cast away
3 4.8

To get rid of something you do not want or need

is closer to discarding objects rather than removing worn items specifically
to throw overboard
vsto cast away
1 6.0

To reject or get rid of something no longer needed

is like that but applies more generally beyond vehicles or ships
to chuck out
vsto cast away
  • UK
1 3.7

To throw away things you do not want

is like that but can also mean broader rejection beyond place removal
to sweep away
vsto cast away
1 3.9

To destroy or carry something away completely, for example by water

is about simple disposal rather than full destruction
to slough off
vsto cast away
1 7.5

To get rid of something unwanted, for example a bad habit or a weak branch

is similar but may not carry the attitude of disdain
to throw off
vsto cast away
1 3.8

To quickly remove something you have or that bothers you

matches this but is more tied to physically throwing away objects
to give it the deep six
vsto cast away
  • Informal
9.9

To throw something away and stop using it

is the general act of discarding rather than total finality
to sling off
vsto cast away
  • Informal
8.6

To take off or get rid of something quickly and without care

is similar but can be used for careful or deliberate disposal too

Antonyms

1.0

To continue doing something or stay in the same state

496 3.4

To keep people and things safe from harm or change

How Discarded

to dump
541 2.6
to dispose of
56 4.1
to cast away
4 4.1
to get rid of
1.6
to set aside
22 3.9

Surface Forms

cast away infinitive
cast away past
cast away past participle
casting away present participle
casts away third person singular

Morphology

cast + away

The meaning 'to throw away / get rid of' is directly and compositionally derived from 'cast' (to throw or discard) plus 'away' (movement off or removal). This verb+away pattern commonly signals disposal or removal (e.g. 'throw away') and is therefore likely to be understood by a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

The phrasal verb cast away comes from a simple image: to cast, meaning to throw, and away, meaning off or out, like tossing rubbish off a boat into the sea. That's why it now means 'to throw away' or 'get rid of' something you don't want.