# cart off

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cart-off
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

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

For teachers: to remove someone or something forcibly or unceremoniously, typically to a place of detention, disposal, or storage.

## Examples

- The police carted off the protesters in a van.
- After the party ended, the cleaners carted off bags of trash and broken furniture.
- The historical artifacts were carted off to a secure warehouse while the museum underwent extensive structural renovations.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They carted off him to jail." but "They carted him off to jail." — when the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- 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'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.