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
James Hilton4
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
- abstract
- call off
- detract
- distract
- divert
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the sudden noise just threw me off completely, and I missed my shot
Recent Examples on the Web One little mistake can throw off the entire at-bat. Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022 With most or all of seats occupied, the atmosphere will throw off more sparks. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2022 Be sure to take the test in a quiet room — the whoosh of air conditioning and the rumble of traffic could throw off your results. Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2022 The pressure causes Rosen to throw off his back foot, making a poor read and delivering a bad throw. Lance Reisland, cleveland, 23 July 2022 Yes, quarterbacks need to throw off platform, use different arm angles, and improvise when the play breaks down. Lance Reisland, cleveland, 20 Aug. 2022 Being required to return to the office threatens to throw off that balance. Wired, 22 July 2022 Another possible option is to detonate a nuclear warhead close to the asteroid in an attempt to throw off its course. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 23 Mar. 2022 Plus, according to the National Sleep Foundation, exposure to bright lights and screens before bed can throw off your circadian rhythm and compromise your sleep quality. Abigail Bailey, Good Housekeeping, 5 Aug. 2022 See More
Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022 With most or all of seats occupied, the atmosphere will throw off more sparks. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2022 Be sure to take the test in a quiet room — the whoosh of air conditioning and the rumble of traffic could throw off your results. Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2022 The pressure causes Rosen to throw off his back foot, making a poor read and delivering a bad throw. Lance Reisland, cleveland, 23 July 2022 Yes, quarterbacks need to throw off platform, use different arm angles, and improvise when the play breaks down. Lance Reisland, cleveland, 20 Aug. 2022 Being required to return to the office threatens to throw off that balance. Wired, 22 July 2022 Another possible option is to detonate a nuclear warhead close to the asteroid in an attempt to throw off its course. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 23 Mar. 2022 Plus, according to the National Sleep Foundation, exposure to bright lights and screens before bed can throw off your circadian rhythm and compromise your sleep quality. Abigail Bailey, Good Housekeeping, 5 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b
throwing off
verb
as in distracting
to draw the attention or mind to something else the sudden noise just threw me off completely, and I missed my shot Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- distracting
- diverting
- calling off
- detracting
- abstracting
- amusing
- wandering
- entertaining
- straying
- beguiling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- concentrating
- focusing
- focussing