A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

careless of something
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cast a shade over something • cast something into
the shade
cast a shade over something —(also: cast a shade on something )
have a damaging effect on smth. such as a person’s reputation,
relationships, etc.: Nor would he do one act for worlds, that
could cast a shade over the fame and honor.
cast something into the shade —(also: throw something into the
shade) make smth. appear insignificant by contrast of superior
quality: Internal taxation is so excessive as to cast even an il-
liberal tariff into the shade.
Note: 
Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase
be in the shade
— remain little known; stay in the background:
How can we see a man’s brilliant qualities if he is what we call
in the shade?
cast someone off • cast someone out
cast someone off —(also: cast someone away) abandon one’s
friend, lover, etc.: When he grows tired of a woman, he just
casts her off like an old coat.
cast someone out—expel a person from an association or so-
ciety: All he really wanted was revenge on a society that has
cast him out.
cast something off • throw something off
cast something off —
1
. (of clothing ) remove; take off: As the
sun grew warmer, he cast off his heavy winter clothes. 2. get
rid of smth. unwanted; become free from smth.: He was
pleased to cast off such an unwelcome responsibility. 3. (of
snakes) get rid of a skin: Snakes cast off their old skin once a
year. 4. release a boat from its moorings by untying a rope:
Don’t cast off the boat till everyone is on board.
throw something off —
1
. = cast something off 
1
: It’s good to
throw off heavy clothes now that summer is here. 2. = cast
something off 2: It’s very difficult to throw off old habits of
thoughts. 3. (of heat, smell, etc.) give out; emit: When this
material burns it throws off a nasty smell and a lot of smoke.
4. write or compose smth. quickly and easily: It shouldn’t take
me more than an afternoon to throw this article off. 5. (also:
throw something away) say smth. casually or carelessly: Be care-
ful what remarks you throw off in front of her, she’s very sen-
sitive. 6. cause mistakes in smth.: Any small interruption is
likely to throw off my calculation.