Phrasal verb
cast round for
Definition
phrasal verb. to look quickly in different places or try many ideas to find something you need urgently.
phrasal verb. to search mentally or physically for something, often in a state of slight desperation or urgency; frequently used with abstract objects like excuses or reasons.
Examples
“He casts round for his keys every morning before work.”
“When the boss asked why the report was late, Mark cast round for a believable excuse.”
“As the company's stock price plummeted, the executive board cast round for a strategy that might appease the increasingly hostile shareholders.”
Examples
simple
“He casts round for his keys every morning before work.”
contextual
“When the boss asked why the report was late, Mark cast round for a believable excuse.”
complex
“As the company's stock price plummeted, the executive board cast round for a strategy that might appease the increasingly hostile shareholders.”
Usage
The verb 'cast' is irregular; the past tense is also 'cast'.
Teaching tip
The phrase evokes the image of a fisherman throwing a line in different directions; it is often used when someone is 'fishing' for an idea or a solution under pressure.
Pitfall
He casted round for an answer.
He cast round for an answer.
The past tense of 'cast' is 'cast', not 'casted'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
round for
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
cast + round + for + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/cast-round-for