cast-off
/ˈkɑːst.ɒf/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkæst.ɑːf/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkast-ˌȯf/ (ame, mw)
cast-off — adjective
1. describing clothes, furniture, or other household things that the owner no longe
describing clothes, furniture, or other household things that the owner no longer wants and has given away or thrown out.
Sivan handed down her cast-off winter coats to her younger cousins.
usually before noun: cast-off + clothes
The charity shop was full of cast-off furniture from local families.
collocation: cast-off furniture
Nellie wore her older brother's cast-off boots until they fell apart.
A pile of cast-off toys sat by the curb waiting for the rubbish collection.
- discarded
more neutral; can describe anything thrown away
- unwanted
broader; the owner does not want the item, but may still keep it
- second-hand
focuses on the next user, not the fact that the previous owner rejected the item
- hand-me-down
informal; specifically describes clothes passed between siblings or relatives
用法筆記
Almost always used directly before a noun. Most common with items of clothing, toys, and furniture that are passed from one person to another within a family or given to charity.
常見錯誤
cast-off — phrasal verb
- cast-offbase form
- cast-offs3rd person singular
- cast-offing-ing form
- cast-offedpast simple
1. to release a boat or ship from the ropes or chains that keep it attached to the
to release a boat or ship from the ropes or chains that keep it attached to the shore or a dock so that it can begin its journey.
Felipe cast off the mooring lines and pushed the dinghy away from the jetty.
transitive: cast off [rope/line]
The captain shouted orders, and the crew cast off from the harbour just before sunrise.
intransitive: cast off from [place]
Yumi watched her father cast the small sailboat off and wave goodbye.
Every fishing boat in the port cast off and headed out before the storm hit.
文法句型
cast off [boat]
cast [boat] off
cast off from [place]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (KNITTING) and sense 3 (DISCARD). This is the only sense that uses the preposition 'from' to indicate the place the boat leaves.
常見錯誤
2. to complete a knitted piece by working the final row so that each loop is locked
to complete a knitted piece by working the final row so that each loop is locked in place, giving a neat border that stays secure.
Yara cast off the last row of stitches and held up the finished scarf.
cast off [stitches/row]
The pattern says to cast off all stitches loosely so the neckline stays stretchy.
adverb between: cast off loosely
Pedro learned to cast off a jumper after weeks of practising basic stitches.
Devika counted her stitches before casting off to make sure she had not dropped any.
- bind off
American English term for the same technique
- cast on
to begin a piece of knitting by putting the first row of stitches onto the needle
文法句型
cast off [stitches]
cast off [piece of knitting]
用法筆記
Opposite of 'cast on' (to begin a piece of knitting by creating the first row of stitches on the needle). Common in written knitting patterns and instructions.
3. to decide that something is no longer useful or acceptable and remove it from yo
to decide that something is no longer useful or acceptable and remove it from your life.
The company cast off its old brand image and launched a fresh marketing campaign.
cast off + abstract noun (image, habit, belief)
Mateo cast off his doubts and applied for the leadership position.
Sari cast off the superstitions she had grown up with after studying science at university.
After years of hesitation the organisation finally cast off its outdated rules.
文法句型
cast off [something]
用法筆記
More formal than 'get rid of' or 'throw away'. Often used with abstract objects such as doubts, habits, beliefs, or traditions. Less commonly used for physical objects in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
cast-off — verb
- cast-offpresent simple I / you / we / they
- cast-offs3rd person singular
- cast-offing-ing form
- cast-offedpast simple
1. to release the hold of a rope or cable that fastens a boat to a fixed point on l
to release the hold of a rope or cable that fastens a boat to a fixed point on land, by undoing its knot or loosening its attachment.
Eli cast off the thick rope that held the boat to the wooden pier.
transitive: cast off [rope]
Someone cast off the bow and stern lines so the boat could leave the marina.
Mia cast off the mooring cables quickly as the tide began to rise.
The ferry crew cast off all the docking lines and gave the all-clear signal.
文法句型
cast off [rope/line/boat]
用法筆記
Describes the concrete physical action of unfastening a rope or cable from a fixed point. Unlike the phrasal verb (SAILING), which encompasses the full departure of a vessel, this verb form only describes the act of releasing the fastening itself — no departure or journey is implied. The direct object must name the rope, line, or cable being released.
2. to close each stitch into a finished edge by pulling one loop through the next a
to close each stitch into a finished edge by pulling one loop through the next across the final row of a knitted piece.
Nellie cast off the final stitch and snipped the yarn with a pair of scissors.
cast off [stitch]
The pattern instructs knitters to cast off the shoulder seams separately.
Sivan cast off all sixty stitches in one row and smiled at her finished hat.
Yasmin checked the tension before casting off so the edge would stay even.
- bind off
American English preferred term for the same technique
- cast on
to begin knitting by creating the first row of loops on the needle
文法句型
cast off [stitches]
cast off [garment]
用法筆記
Describes the specific manual technique of working the final row to close off each stitch into a secure edge — the looping-and-passing action performed on the needle itself. The phrasal verb 'cast off' (KNITTING) instead describes the overall completion process, including removing the finished fabric from the needles after the stitches are secured.