# cast off

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cast-off
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to discard or reject

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to get rid of something or someone that you no longer want or that limits your freedom.

For teachers: to discard, reject, or shed something perceived as a burden or constraint. Transitive; the object may appear between the verb and the particle.

- As she grew older, she cast off her old fears and became more confident.
- The revolutionary movement sought to cast off the shackles of colonial rule and establish a sovereign government.

### 2. to release a boat

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to untie the ropes holding a boat to a dock so that it can sail away.

For teachers: to release the lines securing a vessel to a fixed point, such as a wharf or buoy, to allow it to get underway. Ambitransitive.

- The captain gave the order to cast off just as the sun began to rise.
- After the final passengers boarded, the crew cast off the stern lines and the ferry drifted slowly away from the pier.

### 3. to finish knitting

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to finish the last row of a piece of knitting so the stitches do not come apart.

For teachers: to complete the final row of stitches in knitting and remove them from the needle in a way that prevents unravelling.

- Once you reach the desired length, you need to cast off to finish the scarf.
- She spent the evening casting off the sleeves of the sweater, careful to keep the tension even so the edge wouldn't pucker.

### 4. printing estimation

phrasal verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

to calculate how much space a piece of writing will take when it is printed.

For teachers: to estimate the amount of physical space or number of pages a manuscript will occupy when set in type.

- The editor had to cast off the manuscript to see if it would fit in the magazine.
- Before the advent of digital layout software, compositors had to manually cast off every page to ensure the text block was balanced.

## Examples

- She decided to cast off her old worries and start fresh.
- After years of following strict rules, the young artist finally cast off his family's expectations to find his own style.
- The revolutionary movement sought to cast off the shackles of colonial rule and establish a sovereign government based on democratic principles.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: anchor this in the literal nautical sense of untying a boat from a dock to help students visualize the act of 'releasing' or 'letting go'.

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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.