1 B2 informal
To forcibly or unceremoniously take someone away to another location.
"The security guards carted off the rowdy fans before the match ended."
separable
cart off
B2 informal separable transitive
To take or remove someone or something to another place, especially using a vehicle and often implying force or dismissiveness.
In plain English
To take someone or something away in a cart or vehicle, especially when they don't want to go.
What does "cart off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 informal
To remove unwanted items or large quantities of goods.
"They carted off two vans full of junk from the old warehouse."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To put something in a cart and take it off.
Actually means
To take someone or something away in a cart or vehicle, especially when they don't want to go.
Usage tip
Often implies that the subject (person or thing) is being removed without much ceremony or against their will. Common in journalistic and informal speech. Very similar to 'cart away'.
Words that pair with "cart off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
police ambulance rubbish suspect belongings hospital
How to conjugate "cart off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cart off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
carts off
he/she/it
Past simple
carted off
yesterday
Past participle
carted off
have + pp
-ing form
carting off
continuous
Hear "cart off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cart off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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