- throw
- throw1 W1S1 [θrəu US θrou] v past tense threw [θru:] past participle thrown [θrəun US θroun]▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(throw a ball/stone etc)¦2¦(put something carelessly)¦3¦(push roughly/violently)¦4¦(make somebody fall)¦5¦(move hands/head etc)¦6¦(confuse somebody)¦7 throw yourself at/on/into/down etc8 throw somebody in/into prison/jail9 throw somebody out of work/office etc10 throw somebody/something into confusion/chaos/disarray etc11 throw doubt on something12 throw suspicion on somebody13 throw somebody a look/glance/smile etc14 throw a fit/tantrum15 throw a question/remark etc (at somebody)16 throw something open17 throw a switch/handle/lever18 throw a party19 throw money at something20 be thrown back on something21 throw yourself into something22 throw your weight around23 throw your weight behind somebody/something24 throw light on something25 throw a light/shadow26 throw the book at somebody27 throw something (back) in somebody's face28 throw up your hands (in horror/dismay etc)29 throw in your hand30 throw yourself at somebody31 throw a punch32 throw a match/game/fight33 throw dice/a six/a four etc34 throw a pot35 throw your voice36 throw caution to the wind(s)37 throw the baby out with the bath waterPhrasal verbsthrow something<=>awaythrow something<=>inthrow somebody/something<=>offthrow something<=>onthrow somebody/something<=>outthrow somebody<=>overthrow somebody/something<=>togetherthrow up▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[: Old English; Origin: thrawan 'to cause to twist or turn']1.) ¦(THROW A BALL/STONE ETC)¦ [I and T]to make an object such as a ball move quickly through the air by pushing your hand forward quickly and letting the object gothrow sth to sb▪ He threw his shirt to someone in the crowd.throw sth at sb/sth▪ Someone threw a stone at the car.▪ a crowd of boys throwing snowballs at each otherthrow sb sth▪ Throw me that towel, would you.2.) ¦(PUT SOMETHING CARELESSLY)¦ [T always + adverb/preposition]to put something somewhere quickly and carelessly▪ He threw a handful of money onto the table.▪ Don't just throw your clothes on the floor - pick them up!3.) ¦(PUSH ROUGHLY/VIOLENTLY)¦ [T always + adverb/preposition]to push someone or something roughly and violently▪ The bus stopped suddenly and we were all thrown forwards.▪ The guards threw Biko to the ground and started kicking him.▪ The bomb exploded, throwing bricks and debris into the air .▪ She drew the curtains and threw open the windows.4.) ¦(MAKE SOMEBODY FALL)¦ [T]a) to make your opponent fall to the ground in a sport in which you fightb) if a horse throws its rider, it makes them fall onto the ground5.) ¦(MOVE HANDS/HEAD ETC)¦ [T always + adverb/preposition]to suddenly and quickly move your hands, arms, head etc into a new position▪ I threw my arms around her and kissed her.▪ He threw his head back and laughed.6.) ¦(CONFUSE SOMEBODY)¦ [T]to make someone feel very confused▪ It threw me completely when she said she was coming to stay with us.7.) throw yourself at/on/into/down etcto move or jump somewhere suddenly and with a lot of force▪ He threw himself down onto the bed.▪ She committed suicide by throwing herself out of a tenth floor window.8.) throw sb in/into prison/jailto put someone in prison▪ Anyone who opposes the regime is thrown in jail.9.) throw sb out of work/office etcto suddenly take away someone's job or position of authority▪ Hundreds of men were thrown out of work when the mine closed down.▪ Elections were held, and the government was thrown out of office.10.) throw sb/sth into confusion/chaos/disarray etcto make people feel very confused and not certain about what they should do▪ Everyone was thrown into confusion by this news.▪ The transport industry has been thrown into chaos by the strike.11.) throw doubt on sthto make people think that something is probably not true▪ Fresh evidence has thrown doubt on her story.12.) throw suspicion on sbto make people think that someone is probably guilty▪ This latest document throws suspicion on the company chairman.13.) throw sb a look/glance/smile etcto quickly look at someone with a particular expression that shows how you are feeling▪ He threw Anna a big smile.▪ He threw a glance at Connor.14.) throw a fit/tantrumto react in a very angry way▪ I can't tell my parents - they'd throw a fit!15.) throw a question/remark etc (at sb)to say something to someone or ask them something roughly▪ They threw a few awkward questions at me.▪ 'You're early!' she threw at him accusingly.16.) throw sth opena) to allow people to go into a place that is usually kept privatethrow something open to▪ Plans have been announced to throw the Palace open to the public.b) to allow anyone to take part in a competition or a discussionthrow something open to▪ I would now like to throw the debate open to our audience.17.) throw a switch/handle/leverto make something start or stop working by moving a control▪ He threw a switch and the lights all went out.18.) throw a partyto organize a party and invite people19.) throw money at sth informalto try to solve a problem by spending a lot of money but without really thinking about the problem▪ The problem cannot be solved by throwing money at it.20.) be thrown back on sthto be forced to have to depend on your own skills, knowledge etc▪ Once again, we were thrown back on our own resources.21.) throw yourself into sthto start doing an activity with a lot of effort and energy▪ Since her husband died, she's thrown herself into her work.22.) throw your weight aroundto use your position of authority to tell people what to do in an unreasonable way▪ He's the sort of insensitive bully who enjoys throwing his weight around.23.) throw your weight behind sb/sthto support a plan, person etc and use your power to make sure they succeed▪ The party leadership is throwing its weight behind the campaign.24.) throw light on sthto make something easier to understand by providing new information▪ Recent investigations have thrown new light on how the two men died.25.) throw a light/shadowto make light or shadow fall on a particular place▪ The trees threw long, dark shadows across the cornfield.26.) throw the book at sb informalto punish someone as severely as possible or charge them with as many offences as possible▪ If you get caught they'll throw the book at you!27.) throw sth (back) in sb's faceto be unkind to someone after they have been kind to you or helped you▪ I felt that everything I'd done for them was thrown back in my face.28.) throw up your hands (in horror/dismay etc)to do something that shows you think something is not good but feel you cannot do anything to change it▪ Ted threw up his hands in disgust. 'Can't you make her change her mind?' he asked.29.) throw in your handto stop trying to do something= ↑give up30.) throw yourself at sb informalto try very hard to attract someone's attention because you want to have a sexual relationship with them31.) throw a punchto try to hit someone with your hand in a fight▪ We need to sort this out before people start throwing punches.32.) throw a match/game/fightto deliberately lose a fight or sports game that you could have won▪ He was allegedly offered £20,000 to throw the match.33.) throw dice/a six/a four etcto roll ↑dice or to get a particular number by rolling dice▪ You have to throw a six to start.34.) throw a potto make a pot by shaping clay as it turns round on a special wheel35.) throw your voiceto use a special trick to make your voice seem to be coming from a different place from the place you are standing36.) throw caution to the wind(s)to ignore the risks and deliberately behave in a way that may cause trouble or problems▪ I threw caution to the winds and followed him.37.) throw the baby out with the bath waterto get rid of good useful parts of a system, organization etc when you are changing it in order to try and make it betterthrow away [throw sth<=>away] phr v1.) to get rid of something that you do not want or need▪ I never throw clothes away.▪ I shouldn't have thrown away the receipt.2.) to spend money in a way that is not sensible▪ I can't afford to throw money away.3.) to waste something good that you have, for example a skill or an opportunity▪ This could be the best chance you'll ever have. Don't throw it away!throw in [throw sth<=>in] phr v1.) to add something to what you are selling, without increasing the price▪ We paid $2000 for the boat, with the trailer and spares thrown in.2.) if you throw in a remark, you say it suddenly without thinking carefully▪ She threw in a couple of odd remarks about men.3.) throw in the sponge/towel informalto admit that you have been defeatedthrow off [throw sb/sth<=>off] phr v1.) to take off a piece of clothing in a quick careless way▪ They threw off their clothes and dived in.2.) to get free from something that has been limiting your freedom▪ In 1845, they finally threw off the yoke of foreign rule.3.) if you throw off an illness, you get better from it▪ It's taken me ages to throw off this cold.4.) to escape from someone or something that is chasing you▪ We ran flat out for about half a mile before we could throw them off.5.) to produce large amounts of heat or light▪ The engine was throwing off so much heat that the air above it shimmered with haze.throw on [throw sth<=>on] phr vto put on a piece of clothing quickly and carelessly▪ I threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.throw out [throw sb/sth<=>out] phr v1.) to get rid of something that you do not want or need▪ We usually throw out all our old magazines.2.) to make someone leave a place, school, or organization, especially because they have done something that is against the rules▪ Nick got thrown out of college in the second year for taking drugs.▪ I knew he would never throw us out on the street (=make us leave our home when we have nowhere else to live) .3.) if people throw out a plan or suggestion, they refuse to accept it▪ The idea was thrown out by the committee.▪ The bill was thrown out by the Senate.4.) if something throws out smoke, heat, dust etc, it produces a lot of it and fills the air with it▪ huge trucks throwing out noxious fumes from their exhauststhrow over [throw sb<=>over] phr vold-fashioned to end a romantic relationship with someonethrow together [throw sb/sth<=>together] phr v1.) to make something such as a meal quickly and not very carefully▪ There's lots of food in the fridge - I'm sure I can throw something together.2.) if a situation throws people together, it makes them meet and know each other▪ It was the war that had thrown them together.throw up phr v1.) to bring food or drink up from your stomach out through your mouth because you are ill= ↑vomit▪ Georgia was bent over the basin, throwing up.see usage note ↑sick12.) throw sth<=>upBrE to produce problems, ideas, results etc▪ The arrangement may throw up problems in other areas.3.) throw sth<=>upif a vehicle, runner etc throws up dust, water etc as they move along, they make it rise into the air4.) throw sth<=>upBrE informal to suddenly leave your job, your home etc▪ I can't just throw everything up and come and live with you.5.) throw sth<=>upBrE to build something quickly▪ new houses hastily thrown up by developersthrow 2throw2 n1.) an action in which someone throws something▪ That was a great throw!▪ a throw of over 80 metres2.) an action in which someone rolls a ↑dice in a game▪ It's your throw3.) a large piece of cloth that you put loosely over a chair to cover it and make it look attractive▪ a brightly-coloured cotton throw
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.