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[cash on the barrelhead]{n. phr.}, {informal} Money paid at once; money paid when something is bought. •/Father paid cash on the barrelhead for a new car./ •/Some lawyers want cash on the barrelhead./ Compare: COLD CASH.

[cast] or [shed] or [throw light upon] {v. phr.} To explain; illuminate; clarify. •/The letters that were found suddenly cast a new light on the circumstances of Tom’s disappearance./ •/Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity threw light upon the enigma of our universe./

[cast about] also [cast around] {v.}, {literary} 1. To look everywhere; search. •/The committee was casting about for an experienced teacher to take the retiring principal’s place./ 2. To search your mind; try to remember something; try to think of something. •/The teacher cast about for an easy way to explain the lesson./ •/Jane cast around for a good subject for her report./

[cast down]{adj.} Discouraged; sad; unhappy. — Used less often than the reverse form, "downcast". •/Mary was cast down at the news of her uncle’s death./ •/Charles felt cast down when he lost the race./

[cast in one’s lot with]{formal} See: THROW IN ONE’S LOT WITH.

[castle in the air] See: BUILD CASTLES IN THE AIR.

[castles in Spain] See: CASTLES IN THE AIR.

[cast off]{v.} 1a. or [cast loose] To unfasten; untie; let loose (as a rope holding a boat). •/The captain of the boat cast off the line and we were soon out in open water./ 1b. To untie a rope holding a boat or something suggesting a boat. •/We cast off and set sail at 6 A.M./ 2. To knit the last row of stitches. •/When she had knitted the twentieth row of stitches she cast off./ 3. To say that you do not know (someone) any more; not accept as a relative or friend. •/Mr. Jones cast off his daughter when she married against his wishes./

[cast one’s lot with] See: THROW IN ONE’S LOT WITH.

[cast out]{v.}, {formal} To force (someone) to go out or away; banish; expel. •/After the scandal, he was cast out of the best society./ Compare: CAST OFF(3).

[cast pearls before swine] or [cast one’s pearls before swine] {n. phr.}, {literary} To waste good acts or valuable things on someone who won’t understand or be thankful for them, just as pigs won’t appreciate pearls. — Often used in negative sentences. •/I won’t waste good advice on John any more because he never listens to it. I won’t cast pearls before swine./

[cast the first stone]{v. phr.}, {literary} To be the first to blame someone, lead accusers against a wrongdoer. •/Jesus said that a person who was without sin could cast the first stone./ •/Although Ben saw the girl cheating, he did not want to cast the first stone./

[cast up]{v.}, {literary} 1. To turn or direct upward; raise. •/The dying missionary cast up his eyes to heaven and prayed./ 2. {archaic} To do sums; do a problem in addition; add. •/Cast up 15, 43, 27, and 18./ •/When John had all the figures, he cast them up./