throw off

verb

threw off; thrown off; throwing off; throws off

Definition of throw off

1a : to free oneself from : get rid of threw off his inhibitions

b : to cast off often in a hurried or vigorous manner : abandon threw off all restraint

c : distract, divert dogs thrown off by a false scent

2 : emit, give off stacks throwing off plumes of smoke

3 : to produce in an offhand manner : execute with speed or facility some little … tune that the composer had thrown off— James Hilton

4a : to cause to depart from an expected or desired course mistakes threw his calculations off a bit

b : to cause to make a mistake : mislead

5 : earn, generate an investment that throws off a sizable income

intransitive verb

1 : to begin hunting

2 : to make derogatory comments

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about throw off

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Examples of throw off in a Sentence

the sudden noise just threw me off completely, and I missed my shot

Recent Examples on the Web

BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust, an obscure financial instrument that throws off cash from BP’s Alaskan oil fields, provides another reminder. — Lauren Silva Laughlin, WSJ, "A Slippery Slope for Yield Chasers," 9 Apr. 2019 The film retells the true story of Gary Hart’s presidential campaign in 1988, which was thrown off course when he was caught having an extramarital affair. — Megan Stein, Country Living, "Molly Ephraim Cast in First Major Role Since 'Last Man Standing' Exit," 27 Oct. 2018 The system carries the weight of the water in such a way that the skiiers and snowboarders for whom it was built won’t be thrown off balance, according to 686. — Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, "The Winter Jacket That’s Also a Water Bottle," 1 Oct. 2018 Grass is also high in nitrogen, which can throw off the balance of your pile and make things stinky. — Rebecca Straus, Good Housekeeping, "6 Mistakes You’re Making With Your Compost Pile," 6 Sep. 2018 The first in 1962 was under the country’s founding president Sukarno, who wanted to showcase Indonesia and himself as a leader of nations who’d thrown off colonial Western rule. — Stephen Wright, The Seattle Times, "As Asian Games host, Indonesia has more at stake than sport," 13 Aug. 2018 But when her new husband dies unexpectedly, her life plan is thrown off course, and lots of in-law family drama ensues. — Alexandra Macon, Vogue, "In The Spanish Princess, Catherine of Aragon’s Wedding Dress May Be All the Bridal Inspiration You Really Need," 24 Apr. 2019 Its volume threw off of the spiritual harmony of our New York one-bedroom. — Andrew Moseman, Popular Mechanics, "How Much Litter Box Do You Really Get for $500?," 23 Jan. 2019 With a holiday in the middle of the week, my entire schedule is thrown off. — Courtney Campbell, USA TODAY, "Here are the 5 best Amazon deals right now," 6 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'throw off.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.