throw off

verb

threw off; thrown off; throwing off; throws off

transitive verb

1

a

: 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

4

a

: 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 of throw off

• distract
• divert

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

Also, after the recent additions of the Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement and Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television categories, this marks the first year of the Best Podcast category, which threw off lots of campaigning among its 25 qualified titles. —Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 7 Dec. 2025

The whole equilibrium of the show was thrown off without Leighton bringing her signature sass (and questionable fashion choices) to Essex College. —Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Dec. 2025

However, when only a single snowflake arrives and Gobo can’t write the yearly holiday song everyone is expecting, the season is thrown off course. —Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 30 Nov. 2025

But residents say the number of grizzlies moving through the region has increased significantly in recent years, throwing off a long-standing balance. —Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

Rhymes for throw off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

throw off

verb

: to send out : emit

a sparkler throws off sparks