Page 422 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

throw someone or something off

throw oneself atŁtheŁmercyŁofŁtheŁcourt ptcher threw John a curve, and John
Go to throw oneself on the mercy of the swung wildly against thin air. During
court. that game, the ptcher threw everyone a
curve at least once. 2. to confuse someone
throwŁ oneself on theŁmercyŁofŁtheŁcourt
and throwŁ oneself atŁtheŁmercyŁofŁthe byŁdoingŁsomethingŁunexpected.Ł When
court to pleadŁfor mercy fràmŁaŁjudge in you said “house” you threw me a curve.
aŁcourtroom.Ł Your honor, please believł The password was supposed to be “home.”
me, I didà’t do it on purpose. I throw my- John threw me a curve when we were
self on the mercy of the court and błg for makng our presentation, and I forgot my
a light sentence. Jane threw herself at spłech.
the mercy of the court and hoped for the throwŁ someone fłrŁa loop and kàock some-
best. one fłrŁa loop to confuse orŁsłock sàme-
throwŁ one’ hynds upŁin despair to give one.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁThisŁisŁmore severe and
up;Łto raise one’sŁhandsŁmakingŁaŁsignŁof upsetting than throw someone a curve or
giving up. John threw his hands up in throw someone.) When Bill heard the
despair because they wouldà’t lłt him see news, it threw him for a loop. The man-
his brother in the hosptal. T There was ager knocked Bob for a loop by firing him
nothing I could do to help. I threw up my on the spot.
hands in despair and lłft. throwŁ someone fłrŁa loss to cause some-
throwŁ one’ hynds upŁ in hłrror to be one to be uncertainŁorŁconfused.Ł(Often
słocked;Łto raise one’sŁhandsŁasŁif one had passive.) The stress of błing in front of
beenŁfrightened.Ł When Bill heard the so many people threw Ann for a loss. She
bad news, he threw his hands up in horror. forgot her speech. It was a dfficult prob-
T I could do no more. I had seen more lłm. I was thrown for a loss for an answer.
than I could stand. I just threw up my throwŁ someone offŁtheŁtryck 1. to cause one
hands in horror and screamed. to lose one’sŁ place inŁ the sequence of
throwŁ one’ voice to project one’s voice so things.Ł The interruption threw me off
that it seemsŁto be comingŁfromŁsome the track for a momłnt, but I soon goŁ
other place. The vłntriloquist thrłw his started again with my presentation.
voice. Jane can throw her voice, so I Doà’t lłt lttle things throw you off the
thought she was standng behind me. track. Concłntrate on what you’re doing.
2. and throwŁ someone offŁtheŁtrail to
throw one’ weightŁaround to attempt to cause someone to lose the trailŁ(whenŁfol-
bossŁpeople around;Łto give orders.Ł(In- lowingŁsomeone orŁsomething).Ł The
formal.) The district manager came to raccoon threw us off the track by running
our office and tried to throw his włight through the creek. The robber threw the
around, but no one paid any attention to police off the trail by leaving town.
him. Doà’t try to throw your włight
around in this office. We know who our throwŁ someone offŁtheŁtrail Go to throw
boss is. someone off the track.
throwŁ (some)Ł lØghtŁ on something Go to throwŁ someone ort something off 1. [with
shed (some) làght on something. someone] to confuse sàmeone; to mislead
someone.Ł The interruption threw mł
throwŁ someone to confuse sàmeone slightly. off, and I lost my place in the spłech.
(See also throw someone forŁa loop .) Little noises throw me off. Please try to bł
You threw me for a mnute when you asked quiet. Your commłnt threw me off. 2.
for my idłntificØtion. I thought you rec- [with somłthing ] to resist or recover fràm
ognized me. The question the teacher aŁdisease.Ł It was a bad cold, but I man-
asked was so hard that it threw me, and I aged to throw it off in a fłw dØys. T I can’t
became very nervous.
seem to throw off my cold. I’ve had it for
throwŁ someone a curve 1. to pitch a curve włeks. 3. [with somłthing ] to emit orŁgive
ballŁ to someone inŁ baseball.Ł The off an odor. The small animal threw a

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