ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cart off

phr. v..
C1 Advanced Oxford

phr. v.. to take someone or something away, often by force or in a rough way.

phr. v.. to remove someone or something forcibly or unceremoniously, typically to a place of detention, disposal, or storage.


SIMPLE

The police carted off the protesters in a van.

CONTEXTUAL

After the party ended, the cleaners carted off bags of trash and broken furniture.

COMPLEX

The historical artifacts were carted off to a secure warehouse while the museum underwent extensive structural renovations.

Particles
off
Separability
optional
Pattern
cart + object + off
Usage

often used when the removal feels sudden, forceful, or disrespectful.

Teaching tip

the verb 'cart' suggests moving something heavy or bulky as if in a cart; it is more informal and vivid than 'remove' or 'take away'.

Pitfall

They carted off him to jail.They carted him off to jail.when the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle.

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