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. cast the first stone • lay the first stone cast the first stone —be the first to bring an accusation against a person: Let those of the respectable press who are without sin, cast the first stone . lay the first stone—lay the foundation of smth.: It was Hughes who laid, in 1 877, the first stone of radiographic prac- tice by his detailed experiments. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase make the first stepperform the first move in a course of action towards attaining a goal: Come, let us make the first step to- wards our wealth. casual ward • casualty ward casual ward —(UK hist.) the division of a workhouse to ac- commodate vagrants overnight: The next two nights of our stay were spent in the Notting Hill casual ward . casualty ward—the ward in a hospital in which accidents are treated: We were conducted to the casualty ward in which she was lying. cat fight • dog fight cat fight—(coll.) 1. an altercation between two women typ- ically involving scratching, etc.: He was recently caught in- between a horrible cat fight involving his now girlfriend singer Kelis. 2. a vociferous dispute: A debate at Toronto City Coun- cil about an affordable housing project turned into an ugly “cat fight ” between two councilors. dog fight—a close-range aerial combat between aircraft: One event I do remember is being in the back garden and looking up and seeing two planes in a dog fight . cat has nine lives, a • there’s more than one way to kill a cat cat has nine lives, a —(saying ) cats can survive things severe enough to kill other animals: A cat has nine lives , you only have one. To prevent accidents—think before action. there’s more than one way to kill a cat (also: there are more ways than one to kill a cat)—there is more than one method to do smth.: Their experiments revealed: There’s more than one way to kill a cat . catch a look • catch the eye catch a look —1. notice smb.’s glance: I caught a fleeting look of relief from Sylvia. 2. look at a person or thing: He turned to catch a look at her sweet face. catch the eye—attract attention: The thickets of Licuala catch the eye with their striking foliage. catch a tiger by the tail • take the bull by the horns catch a tiger by the tail—(also: have a tiger by the tail) engage in an undertaking which may prove extremely dangerous or difficult: You’re taking on an organization with reserves you know nothing about. How do you know you won’t be catching a tiger by the tail ? Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase catch an eel by the tail(also: hold an eel by the tail) attempt to control an elusive person or situation: He is not easily managed, but if he suspects you are trying to take him in, you may as well catch an eel by the tail . take the bull by the horns—deal with a difficult situation in a bold and direct manner rather than evade it: He had not, as the phrase goes, taken the bull by the horns , or advanced in front of the enemy’s fire. catch on to someone • catch on with someone catch on to someone—understand the real nature of a person: He was a real talent and I hoped that the world would catch on to him . catch on with someone—become popular with people: I hope our new product catches on with children. catch on to something • catch up to something catch on to something—figure smth. out; understand smth.: His sagacious mind immediately recognized and caught on to the only plan of salvation in sight. catch up to something—(also: catch up with something ) 1. overtake a bus, etc. by walking fast: Jane caught up to the bus that had almost left her behind. 2. keep pace with smth.: Quite frankly, at our current pace, we will never catch up to fixing our infrastructure deficit. catch one’s breath • get one’s breath again catch one’s breath—be affected by a sudden emotion such as fear, excitement, etc.: To the rocketing bound of a good free horse you catch your breath , thankfully, happily. get one’s breath again—be relieved after exertion, excitement, etc.: The work goes on until Friday night, and then the break which gives one time to get one’s breath again . catch one’s death • meet one’s death catch one’s death—(coll.) catch a severe cold that may be fatal (also: catch one’s death of cold): She had walked in the rain seeking a refuge and “catching her death ” instead. – 67 – catch one’s death