# cast round for

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cast-round-for
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to look quickly in different places or try many ideas to find something you need urgently.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He casted round for an answer." but "He cast round for an answer." — The past tense of 'cast' is 'cast', not 'casted'.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.