throw off

as in to distract
to draw the attention or mind to something else the sudden noise just threw me off completely, and I missed my shot

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of throw off Many studies rely on collecting information at precise, regular intervals; miss just one data point, and an entire analysis can be thrown off. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2025 And yet, Warner depends on the cash CNN’s flagship linear network throws off to fund its business, even if there will be less of it in months to come. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 25 Mar. 2025 Every actor gets an aria-like monologue, which throws off the play’s rhythm, but at least each one is a bravura showpiece. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025 Living room layout mistakes can throw off the entire experience of a space. Heather Bien, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for throw off

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“Throw off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throw%20off. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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