throw off

v. get rid of, free oneself from; mislead, misdirect; cause a diversion {used in combination (Example: "The robber used a disguise to throw the policemen off his trail.")}

n. (In handball) first throw taken at the start of a game and at the beginning of the second half

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Verb
1. get rid of; "he shed his image as a pushy boss"; "shed your clothes"
(synonym) shed, cast, cast off, shake off, throw, throw away, drop
(hypernym) remove, take, take away, withdraw
(hyponym) shed, molt, exuviate, moult, slough
2. get rid of; "I couldn't shake the car that was following me"
(synonym) shake, shake off, escape from
(hypernym) escape, get away, break loose

(n.)
A start in a hunt or a race.
  

mislead, confuse, fool The criminals threw off the police and escaped into the subway.

Synonyms and related words:
abandon, abrupt, ad-lib, addle, alienate, articulate, ball up, bat out, befuddle, bewilder, blow, botch, break the habit, breathe, breathe out, buck off, bungle, cast, cast off, cast out, chime, chorus, clear, come out with, communicate, convey, cook up, cut adrift, cut off, cut out, dash off, delete, deliver, depart, depose, deracinate, disarticulate, disclose, disconnect, discontinue, disengage, disgorge, disjoin, disjoint, dislodge, dismount, dispel, dissociate, distract, disunite, divide, divorce, dizzy, do anyhow, do away with, do by halves, do carelessly, do offhand, doff, douse, drop, eject, eliminate, emit, enunciate, escape, estrange, evacuate, exhale, exhaust, expel, expire, express, extemporize, exterminate, exuviate, fake, fake up, fling off, fluster, formulate, fudge up, fume, get clear of, get free of, get out of, get quit of, get rid of, give, give expression, give off, give out, give out with, give tongue, give up, give utterance, give vent to, give voice, impart, improvisate, improvise, isolate, issue, jury-rig, kick, knock off, knock out, knock together, lash up, leave, leave off, let out, lip, liquidate, lose, make up, mix up, molt, open the floodgates, open the sluices, out with, part, patch, patch together, patch up, phonate, phrase, play by ear, pound out, pour forth, present, pronounce, puff, pull away, pull back, pull out, purge, put forth, put in words, put off, raise, reek, release, remove, rid, root out, root up, rough out, roughcast, roughhew, say, scrap the plan, segregate, separate, sequester, set apart, set aside, set forth, shake, shake off, shed, shoo, shut off, slap up, slip, slip out of, slough, smoke, sound, split, stand aloof, stand apart, stand aside, steam, step aside, step out of, stop, strike off, subtract, swear off, take off, tell, throw away, throw out, throw together, toss off, toss out, toss together, trifle with, unburden, uncouple, undo, unhorse, unplace, unsaddle, unseat, unwrap, unyoke, uproot, utter, vamp, vapor, vent, verbalize, vocalize, voice, whip up, whisper, whomp up, wing it, withdraw, word