📒 to look, smile, etc. in a particular direction
- cast something + adv./prep. She cast a welcoming smile in his direction.
- I cast an angry look at him.
- He groaned, casting his eyes to the ceiling.
📒 to make light, a shadow, etc. appear in a particular place
- cast something Someone was standing in the dark shadow cast by the light.
- cast something + adv./prep. The moon had cast a silvery light on the huts.
- The setting sun cast an orange glow over the mountains.
📒 to say, do or suggest something that makes people doubt something or think that somebody is less honest, good, etc.
- cast something on/upon something This latest evidence casts serious doubt on his version of events.
- cast something ‘You know that I'm not one to cast aspersions,’ he said.
- cast something over something The sad news cast a shadow over the proceedings (= made people feel unhappy).
📒 to vote for somebody/something
- He refused to cast a vote for either candidate.
- How many of the registered voters will actually cast their ballots?
📒 to choose actors to play the different parts in a film, play, etc.; to choose an actor to play a particular role
- cast something The play is being cast in both the US and Britain.
- cast somebody (as somebody) He has cast her as an ambitious lawyer in his latest movie.
📒 to describe or present somebody/yourself in a particular way
- cast somebody/yourself as something He cast himself as the innocent victim of a hate campaign.
- cast somebody/yourself in something The press were quick to cast her in the role of the ‘other woman’.
📒 to throw one end of a fishing line into a river, etc.
📒 to throw somebody/something somewhere, especially using force
- The priceless treasures had been cast into the Nile.
- They cast anchor at nightfall.
📒 when a snake casts its skin, the skin comes off as part of a natural process
📒 if a horse casts a shoe, the shoe comes off by accident
📒 to shape hot liquid metal, etc. by pouring it into a hollow container (called a mould)
- a statue cast in bronze
- (figurative) an artist cast in the mould of (= very similar to) Miró
📒 to look at or examine something quickly
- Could you just run your eyes over this report?
- I cast my eyes around the room but couldn't see any familiar faces.
📒 to make a problem, etc. easier to understand
- Recent research has cast new light on the causes of the disease.
📒 to make a problem, etc. easier to understand
- Recent research has thrown new light on the causes of the disease.
📒 to make yourself think about something that happened in the past
- I want you to cast your minds back to the first time you met.
📒 to consider a lot of different people, activities, possibilities, etc. when you are looking for something
- It’s worth casting your net wide when applying for your first job.
📒 to use words that are thought to be magic and have the power to change or influence somebody/something
📒 used to say that an event has happened or a decision has been made that cannot be changed
📒 to use a method of choosing somebody/something that involves putting a number folded pieces of paper in a bag, one of them with a mark on it. People then take it in turns to take a piece of paper from the bag and the one who takes the paper with the mark
- They drew lots for the right to go first.
📒 to stop caring about how dangerous something might be; to start taking risks
- He threw caution to the wind and dived into the water after the child.