| 释义 |
throw-away
[f. vbl. phr. to throw away: see throw v.1 37.]
A. n.
1. a. A printed sheet or work not intended for preservation after it has been read; also attrib. Now usu. with reference to ephemeral material distributed free of charge, as pamphlets, advertising leaflets, certain newspapers, etc.
1903Westm. Gaz. 7 Oct. 12/2 Every now and then a little blue square of printed paper fluttered in the breeze. No one seemed to connect these little ‘throw-aways’ with the venerable figure on the front seat. 1905Daily Chron. 20 Feb. 4/6 This present rag of a throwaway that you can get for a halfpenny. 1905Westm. Gaz. 31 July 10/2 Lord Alverstone..vigorously denounced the ‘sixpenny throw⁓away rubbish’. 1922Joyce Ulysses 149 A sombre Y.M.C.A. young man..placed a throwaway in a hand of Mr Bloom. 1944Sun (Baltimore) 1 June 16-o/3 The small throw-aways contain the latest authentic reports of the progress of the war. 1954[see junk mail s.v. junk n.2 5]. 1965Newsweek 21 June 70/2 The advertisements in the two editions of the weekly shopper's throwaway. 1973D. Ramsay Deadly Discretion 102 Here's our throwaway. It's also the ad we run in the papers.
b. More generally, anything designed to be thrown away after use; spec. a disposable container. Cf. sense 2 a of the adj. below. colloq.
1953Sun (Baltimore) 17 Feb. (B ed.) 30/7 The group of county delegates submitted a bill..which would ban the dispensing of alcoholic beverages in throw-aways. 1976Monitor (McAllen, Texas) 29 Oct. 3a/3 Consumers could save millions of dollars a year in lower prices if soft drinks and beer were sold in returnable containers instead of throwaways.
2. An act of throwing away, or that which is thrown away, in various senses. Also fig.
1911G. B. Shaw Lett. to Granville Barker (1956) 178 If the attempt proves a throw away, it is only a throw⁓away of the chance I promised him, not of the play. 1922Joyce Ulysses 223 A skiff, a crumpled throwaway..rode lightly down the Liffey. 1955N.Y. Times 29 May vi. 15/1 Generally, the program opens with a line of girls in two or three minutes of fast-stepping, high-kicking precision dancing. This is a throwaway, designed to get late-comers settled into their seats before the real show starts. 1960Twentieth Cent. Aug. 137 Each is a finely polished stylist: let no one be deceived by the easy, laconic throw-away of Ada Leverson. 1976B. Jackson Flameout vi. 115 It was a pity that the best question was a throwaway to the other reporters: they didn't deserve it. 1983Listener 13 Oct. 21/1 Even in films they hiss ‘What did he say?’ at a throwaway of dialogue, thus ensuring that the next few minutes are lost to all around.
B. as adj.
1. Of prices: so low as to represent virtually no return for the goods sold; ‘give-away’.
1924A. J. Small Frozen Gold xiii. 288 With a modicum of luck they might even be able to record every claim they had pegged—and then get rid of them at throw-away prices. 1967Spectator 14 July 53/3 At throwaway prices everyone can afford the latest Camp, and there will be something new coming along next month. 1976[see saturate v. 2 d].
2. a. Designating something designed to be thrown away after use; disposable.
1928Weekly Dispatch 13 May 17 You can..clean your face at intervals with those throwaway hankies you buy from any chemist. 1945Forbes (N.Y.) 15 Oct. 16/1 ‘Throw-away’ towels will arrive soon. 1958Engineering 7 Feb. 192/3 The butane comes from a throwaway cartridge. 1970Worship Jan. 41 Already one hears of loose-leaf prayer books and throw-away hymn books. 1982J. Hansen Gravedigger iv. 33 Two plastic-handled throwaway razors.
b. Pertaining to or characterized by the use of disposable goods or those with a short life-span.
1969New Scientist 25 Sept. 648/1 We will undoubtedly have a formidable litter problem in our ‘throw away’ world..from..household equipment with built-in obsolescence. 1977M. Drabble Ice Age ii. 114 She thanked God that she lived in a consumer throw-away flush-away advertising society. 1980Jrnl. R. Soc. Arts Mar. 188/1 At the same time the ‘throw away’ attitude developed in society.
3. Underemphatic or casual in style or technique; understated (usu. for increased effect). Cf. throw v.1 37 e.
1955Time 4 Apr. 77/2 It takes a certain nerve for a comedian to try a throwaway line. 1958M. Dickens Man Overboard vii. 102 He was more cunning than he seemed with that throw-away sixth-form voice. 1961John o' London's 25 May 591/4, I remember his beautiful throw⁓away performance in Mr. Deeds goes to Town. 1969N.Y. Rev. Bks. 30 Jan. 27/1 He will..carry us with him, a little breathless perhaps, and dizzy with his throw-away allusions and polyglot versatility. 1972Daily Tel. 29 June 7/7 You can carry your enthusiasm..into casual slouchy nonchalance, and the outstanding collection of Stephen Adnitt had plenty of this throwaway chic. 1980Times Lit. Suppl. 11 July 786/3 The style of the narrative is measured but evocative; a little throw-away, a little affected by the insidious influence of Peter Fleming. |