The phrasal verb "cast aside" is more commonly used in informal speech, but it can also appear in formal contexts, particularly in writing. It generally means to dismiss or reject something or someone as unimportant or unnecessary. In everyday conversation, you might hear someone say they "cast aside their worries" in a casual context, signaling that they decided to stop worrying about something. In more formal writing, such as literature or academic articles, "cast aside" might be used to describe the discarding of outdated theories or ignored advice. It's a versatile phrasal verb that conveys a sense of deliberate decision-making, often with an emotional distance from the object or idea being set aside. Although it can be used metaphorically to express emotional distancing, it is also applied literally, as in discarding physical items.
B2
UpperIntermediate
1. To discard or reject someone or something because they are no longer needed or wanted.
After the company merger, many employees were cast aside as redundant.
She felt cast aside by her friends after she moved to a new school.
The old traditions were cast aside in favor of more modern approaches.
The coach decided to cast aside the old playbook and start fresh for the new season.