Cast sth aside Meaning, Examples & How to Use This Phrasal Verb

What Does “Cast sth aside” Mean?

“Cast sth aside” means to deliberately discard or ignore something, often ideas, feelings, or objects, by putting them away or forgetting about them.

Introduction

The phrase “cast sth aside” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe the act of throwing away or rejecting something, whether it is physical or abstract. It often implies a conscious decision to stop caring about or considering something. The cast sth aside meaning can apply to emotions, plans, objects, or thoughts that someone chooses to leave behind or ignore. This phrase is useful in both formal and informal contexts when you want to express that something is no longer important or relevant. Understanding how to use “cast sth aside” will help you communicate clearly when talking about moving on from past experiences or decisions.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: cast something aside
• Type: transitive
• Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
• Meaning: to throw away or ignore something deliberately

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Cast sth aside” is a separable transitive phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (something) between “cast” and “aside,” or after “aside.”

• cast something aside
• cast aside something

Both forms are correct, but placing the object between the verb and particle is more common.

How to Use “Cast sth aside”?

You use “cast sth aside” when you want to express putting something away mentally or physically. For example, you can cast aside old feelings, doubts, or even physical items like clothes or books. It often implies a deliberate and sometimes emotional decision.

Examples of contexts include:

• Letting go of negative emotions
• Discarding old habits or ideas
• Ignoring distractions to focus on something else

Examples

• She decided to cast aside her fears and try the new job.
• After the argument, he cast aside all thoughts of reconciliation.
• The company cast aside outdated technology to improve efficiency.
• Cast aside your doubts and believe in yourself.
• They cast aside the old rules to create a new system.

Common Mistakes

• Incorrect: She cast aside to her worries.
  Correct: She cast aside her worries.
• Incorrect: I cast aside it because it was useless.
  Correct: I cast it aside because it was useless.
• Incorrect: They cast aside without explanation.
  Correct: They cast aside their old plans without explanation.

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrasal verbs include “throw away,” “put aside,” and “brush off,” but they differ slightly:

• Throw away: Usually means physically discarding something.
• Put aside: Means saving or temporarily ignoring something, not necessarily rejecting it.
• Brush off: Means ignoring or dismissing something, often a comment or criticism.

“Cast aside” often carries a stronger, more deliberate sense of rejection or abandonment than these alternatives.

Common Collocations

• Cast aside doubts
• Cast aside fears
• Cast aside old habits
• Cast aside worries
• Cast aside plans
• Cast aside emotions

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of cast sth aside:

• Cast Sb Aside
• Cast Sth Up
• Cast Sth On
• Cast Sth Off
• Cast Sth Out Of Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Anna: I’m worried about making mistakes in the presentation.

John: Don’t worry. Just cast aside your fears and focus on what you know.

Anna: You’re right. I’ll cast aside my doubts and do my best.

Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “cast aside”:

1. She decided to ________ her old notebooks and start fresh.
2. It’s time to ________ your fears and try something new.
3. They ________ the outdated rules to improve the system.
4. He ________ all his worries and enjoyed the trip.

FAQs

• Q: Can “cast aside” be used with emotions?
  A: Yes, it commonly refers to ignoring or rejecting feelings like fear or doubt.
• Q: Is “cast aside” formal or informal?
  A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
• Q: Can “cast aside” be used without an object?
  A: No, it needs an object (something) to make sense.
• Q: Is “cast aside” separable?
  A: Yes, you can separate the verb and particle by placing the object in between.
• Q: What is a synonym for “cast aside”?
  A: “Throw away” or “put aside” can be synonyms but with slight differences in meaning.