toss1 verbtoss2 noun
tosstoss1 /tɒs $ tɒːs/ ●●○ verb 
WORD ORIGINtoss1
Origin:
1500-1600 Probably from a Scandinavian languageVERB TABLE
toss
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | toss |
| he, she, it | tosses | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | tossed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have tossed |
| he, she, it | has tossed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had tossed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will toss |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have tossed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am tossing |
| he, she, it | is tossing | |
| you, we, they | are tossing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was tossing |
| you, we, they | were tossing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been tossing |
| he, she, it | has been tossing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been tossing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be tossing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been tossing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He tossed her last week's edition of the "Herald".
- Pour the marinade over the mushrooms and toss them lightly.
- The fire was started when a passing motorist carelessly tossed a cigarette out of his car.
- The hot dog tasted funny, so I tossed it.
- The kite was being tossed by the wind.
- And the mare, as if finally understanding, begins to strain, tosses her head wildly, pulls at the reins.
- As I tossed the bag down the ladder well, the warrant stepped back.
- Finding none, she poured soda and salt into the crease of her folded hand and tossed both into the flour.
- Graham tossed the paperback on to the opposite couchette and made his way to the dining car.
- Many enjoy the convenience of popping an imitation burger in the microwave or tossing a tofu dog on the grill.
- More than 150 farmers and hauliers tossed ideas around.
- Normally serene palms toss their woolly mop heads like distraught grieving women who can not take any more suffering.
- She tossed it aside and renewed her efforts to contact Georgie and perhaps learn more about the murder.
- The dressing is great tossed with a salad of lettuce, broccoli florets, zucchini and yellow pepper slices.
- Therefore they are never perfectly at ease and may toss and turn in bed.
THESAURUS
to make something such as a ball or stone move quickly through the air using your hand: · I threw the ball back to him.· Protestors began throwing stones at the police.· I just threw the letter in the bin.
(also chuck) informal to throw something, especially in a careless way without using much effort: · She tossed her coat onto the bed.· Can you chuck me the remote control?
to throw something with a lot of force: · Someone hurled a brick through his window.
to angrily throw something somewhere with a lot of force, or to carelessly throw something somewhere because you have very little time: · He flung her keys into the river.· I flung a few things into a suitcase.
to throw something heavy using a lot of effort: · They heaved the log into the river.
to throw something high into the air over someone or something: · The police lobbed tear gas canisters over the heads of the demonstrators.
Longman Language Activatorto sleep badly or be unable to sleep to wake up often during the night, and not feel rested or comfortable: · I'm sorry, I didn't sleep very well last night and it's put me in a bad mood.· They slept badly on the hard bamboo floor.
to be unable to go to sleep especially because of noise, worries, pain etc: · If you can't get to sleep, don't get up or have a meal or snack; relax and read quietly instead.· I just couldn't get to sleep, what with all the traffic and people in the street.
to sleep badly and only for short periods, especially because of noise, worries, pain etc: · The people next door are having a party, so we probably won't get much sleep tonight.· She cried all last night and I didn't get much sleep either.
to be someone who is easily woken when there is any movement or noise: · I'm a light sleeper - so I woke up as soon as I heard him come in.· I just hope your dad isn't a light sleeper.
informal to not sleep at all during the night, especially because you are worried, angry, upset etc: · I was so worried, I didn't sleep a wink last night.hardly/barely sleep a wink: · He had hardly slept a wink all night, beside himself with jealousy and anger.
to be in bed unable to sleep, especially because you are worried or excited about something: · I used to lie awake at night wondering what had happened to her.· I lay awake the whole night after I read the letter, thinking about what it could mean.· We'd lie awake, listening to our parents arguing in the room below.
to keep changing your position in bed because you are unable to sleep and do not feel comfortable: · She had slept badly, tossing and turning before falling into a fitful doze.· Do you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, or do you toss and turn for hours before dropping off?
a night when you cannot sleep at all: · After a sleepless night, she looked almost as pale and exhausted as Elinor.give somebody a sleepless night (=make someone worry so much that they cannot sleep): · He's given us a few sleepless nights over the years, but we love him.spend a sleepless night: · Tom had spent a sleepless night on the sofa.
a night during which you sleep badly, keep changing your position in bed, and wake up often: · Another restless night followed, but she determinedly settled down to work again the next morning.· I'd had quite a restless night, and breakfast didn't look appetizing.
the inability to sleep at night: · Working outdoors all day certainly did wonders for my insomnia.· a cure for insomniasuffer from insomnia: · He suffered from insomnia and was taking sleeping pills each night.chronic insomnia (=when this happens to you a lot over a long period of time): · My mother was alarmed by my fits of weeping and chronic insomnia.
an inability to sleep that continues for several nights or more: · His eyes were still red-rimmed from tears and sleeplessness.· Sleeplessness and loss of appetite are common signs of stress.
to throw something to make something such as a ball fly through the air by moving your arm quickly and letting it go: · The boys were throwing and catching a frisbee on the beach.throw something on/onto/across/down etc something: · John stood on the beach, throwing stones into the waves.throw something at somebody/something (=in order to try and hit them): · She was so angry that she threw the pan straight at my head.· A couple of kids started throwing stones at my window.throw somebody something (=when you want someone to catch something): · Carrie threw him a box of matches.throw something to somebody: · The La Scala crowd cheered and threw flowers to the 57-year-old tenor.
informal to throw something, especially in a careless way: chuck something on/out of/into etc something: · She took off her shoes and chucked them on the floor.chuck somebody something: · Chuck me those cigarettes, would you?
to throw something carelessly, especially using a lot of force: sling something into/down/over etc something: · The baggage handlers just sling the cases in the back of the bus -- they don't care if anything gets broken.· He watched horrified as they slung the body over the cliff.
to throw something, especially in a careless, relaxed way: toss something into/out of/down etc something: · The fire was started when a passing motorist carelessly tossed a cigarette out of his car.toss somebody something: · He tossed her last week's edition of the "Herald".toss something to somebody: · "Catch!" said Sandra, tossing her bag to Andy.
to throw something so that it goes high in the air before coming down: lob something over/across etc something: · Local kids keep lobbing empty beer cans over our fence.lob something at somebody (=when you want to hit them): · Someone lobbed a book at me, and it hit me in the face.
American to throw something quickly and carelessly: pitch something across/over/onto etc something: · Tod pitched his coat onto the sofa and ran toward the kitchen.pitch something to somebody (=when you want someone to catch something): · She pitched the ball to the little boy.
to throw a heavy object in a violent way, especially because you are angry: hurl something at somebody/something (=when you want to hit them): · Some demonstrators began hurling bricks at the police.hurl something into/out of/across etc something: · He picked up the chair and hurled it across the room.
to throw something quickly and with a lot of force: fling something out of/down/into etc something: · He pulled the knife from her hand and flung it out of the window.fling something at somebody (=when you want to hit them): · When he gave her the tickets she ripped them up and flung them at him.fling somebody something (=when you want someone to catch something): · We flung him the safety rope.
to throw something away also chuck away informal British informal: throw/chuck something away · I've thrown his photograph away and I never want to see his face again.· It's a nice dress. It would be a shame to chuck it away.· To avoid the risk of infection, needles must be used once and then thrown away immediately.throw/chuck away something · Some employers throw away all incorrectly hand-written applications without even reading them.· In the bin there were a few scraps of food his mum had chucked away.
also chuck out especially British, informal, /toss out American informal to get rid of something, especially when you are trying to make a place more tidy or to make space for new things: throw/chuck/toss something out: · You haven't thrown those magazines out have you?· We chucked a lot of stuff out when we moved house.throw/chuck/toss out something: · She would do nothing for days then spring into action and spend a day throwing out all the garbage, cleaning the bathroom, and dusting.· Why don't you toss out all those old books. You'll never want to read them again.
to throw something away, especially something old or dirty: · I think it's time we got rid of all these old toys.· If you hate that furniture so much why don't you get rid of it and buy some new stuff.get rid of something for somebody: · Give me the empty bottles -- I'll get rid of them for you.
American informal to get rid of something, especially when you are trying to make a place more tidy or to make room for new things: · If you don't want any of these shoes, I'm going to toss them.· "What should I do with all your old text books?" "Just chuck them out - I'm never going to need them."
formal to throw away something that you do not want or no longer need, by putting it in a suitable place: · Please dispose of this wrapper carefully.· Nuclear waste can cause serious damage to the environment if not disposed of properly.
formal to throw away something that you no longer need, especially by dropping it on the ground or leaving it somewhere you should not: · People who discard their litter in the streets should have to pay heavy fines.· A child had become trapped in a refrigerator discarded in a vacant lot.
to throw away something dangerous or something no one wants, especially by leaving it in an unsuitable place: dump something in/into something: · People who want to get rid of old cars sometimes dump them in the woods.· Toxic waste is being dumped into the ocean.· The half-burned bodies were dumped in mass graves.
to throw something small and light with your fingers · Mum tried to toss the pancake but unfortunately it missed the pan and hit the floor.toss/flip something into/over etc something · Josh took a mint and flipped it into his mouth like a dime.toss/flip a coin (=make a coin go upwards and spin in the air, for example as a way of deciding something) · We couldn't decide which movie to go to, so in the end we just flipped a coin.
to make something small and light go forward through the air with a quick movement of your thumb and finger: flick something off/into/over etc something: · He paused and flicked a mosquito off his arm.flick something at somebody (=in order to try and hit someone): · Stop flicking water at me!
WORD SETSallspice, nounbake, verbbarbecue, verbbaste, verbblanch, verbboil, verbbottle, verbbouillon cube, nounbraise, verbbreadcrumbs, nounbreaded, adjectivebrine, nounbroil, verbbrown, verbbutter, verbcandied, adjectivecaper, nouncaramel, nouncardamom, nouncarve, verbcasserole, nouncasserole, verbcaster sugar, nouncharbroil, verbchervil, nounchestnut, nounchicory, nounchill, verbchilli powder, nounchip, verbcilantro, nouncinnamon, nounclean, verbclove, nouncochineal, nouncoconut, nouncook, verbcook, nouncookbook, nouncookery, nouncookery book, nouncordon bleu, adjectivecore, verbcoriander, nouncream, verbcrisp, verbcube, verbculinary, adjectivecumin, nouncurry powder, noundeep fry, verbdessertspoon, noundevilled, adjectivedice, verbdone, adjectivedress, verbessence, nounfat, nounflambé, adjectiveflan, nounflavouring, nounflour, nounflour, verbfrost, verbfrosting, nounfry, verbglaze, verbglaze, noungourmet, adjectivegourmet, noungrate, verbgrease, noungrease, verbgreaseproof paper, noungrill, verbgrill, noungrind, verbgut, verbhard-boiled, adjectivehaute cuisine, nounhob, nounhull, verbhusk, verbice, verbicebox, nounicing, nounicing sugar, nouningredient, nounjoint, verbknead, verblard, nounlard, verbleaven, nounliquidize, verbmarinade, nounmarinate, verbmarjoram, nounmicrowave, verbmince, verbmincer, nounmint, nounmix, verbmix, nounnouvelle cuisine, nounnutmeg, nounoil, nounolive oil, nounoverdone, adjectiveparboil, verbpare, verbpickle, verbpipe, verbpit, verbpitted, adjectivepkt, pluck, verbplum tomato, nounpoach, verbprecooked, adjectivepreheat, verbprep, verbprove, verbrecipe, nounreduce, verbrice paper, nounrind, nounrise, verbroast, verbroast, nounroast, adjectiverosemary, nounroux, nounsaffron, nounsage, nounsalt, nounsalt, verbsauce, nounsausage meat, nounsauté, verbsavory, nounscalloped, adjectivesear, verbseason, verbseasoning, nounself-raising flour, nounself-rising flour, nounsesame, nounshell, verbshortening, nounshort-order cook, nounshuck, verbsieve, verbsift, verbsifter, nounsimmer, verbsimmer, nounskewer, verbsmoke, verbsoak, verbsoda, nounsodium bicarbonate, nounspice, nounspice, verbspicy, adjectivestarch, nounsteam, verbsteep, verbstew, verbstock, nounstone, verbstrain, verbstuff, verbstuffing, nounsunny-side up, adjectivesweat, verbsweet-and-sour, adjectiveTabasco, nountandoori, adjectivetarragon, nountbsp, teaspoon, nountenderize, verbtenderloin, nountextured vegetable protein, nounthaw, verbthyme, nountimer, nountoast, nountoast, verbtoss, verbtruss, verbtsp, turmeric, noununderdone, adjectivevinaigrette, nounvinegar, nounwhip, verbwhisk, verbyeast, nounzap, verbzest, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
They tossed a coin to decide who would go first.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
They tossed a coin to decide who would go first. (=mix it all together, usually with a dressing)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· He set off, more slowly this time, but all the same she was being tossed about on the seat.· Could I stay here when his dear body is tossed about in the waves?· Listlessly she tossed about, unable to sleep, her mind reliving all that had been said tonight.· Nothing is worse for anyone, including leaders, than being tossed about by an effort out of control.· A pure white butterfly tossed about in the light on the edge of the lake.· Things tossed about, drawers emptied out, jewelry and other valuables taken.· Here, almost any topic under the sun was likely to be tossed about in the course of a morning's talk.· Restless at night with the fever, for ever tossing about.
· And if it was tossed around more than a couple of weeks ago, the thread might have expired.· Schizophrenia was not a word I tossed around about Clarisa, though I knew that was what she suffered from.· It would have been inconceivable for exchange control to be tossed around and knocked around in Cabinet.· The map tore, and tore again, as he tossed around in the backseat.· As a power forward, Taylor was tossed around like a throw pillow by his Heat counterpart Anthony Mason.
· And which, of course, are casually tossed aside whenever the overriding concept of money enters the picture.· How many old people are tossed aside after giving up decades of their lives to the same job?· Its flowers she stuck through a split in her hat; the rest she tossed aside.· But behind the scenes, gentle greyhounds are often just exploited, abused and then tossed aside when their fleetness fades.
· Everything she had tried to achieve for herself during the last four years would have to be tossed away, useless.· In most cases, you need to break down and combine your sentences, tossing away words as you do.· These benefits can not be tossed away lightly.· They tossed away their diet books and tried instead to eat according to their bodies' own advice: hunger and cravings.· He tossed away the sketch, kicked off his sandals, then pulled off his socks and rolled up his trouser legs.· After a brief time of happiness as a Christmas tree, it was tossed away and eventually burned.
· This inscription had been made to look tossed off, like handwriting.· I might have tossed off my usual quick explanation.· He was stretched out on his back, his sheet tossed off, completely naked and heedless.· He sat, tossing off his coat, locking his hands around his knees and rocking.· Neither are ethnic jokes, which are tossed off casually and somewhat cruelly.· Melinda Mullins -- a presence to remember -- plays the prima donna, Hilary, who tosses off an insult a minute.
· Within minutes of being tossed out, the soaking fabrics became stiff boards.· Ever since term limits were tossed out, there has been no limit to the ebullience of their target, Willie Brown.· That example was tossed out during the 1950s, when McCarthyites took issue with it.· He tossed out Lee Chapman, who then became a major force in the Leeds team that won the League last season.· Voters have tossed out the coalition of young, idealistic, inexperienced and fractious liberal parties that won in 1996.· He recently was tossed out of a game midway through the first period, having accumulated 37 PIMs.
NOUN· He pulled a scrap of meat from the cutlet in his hand and tossed it into the air.· They whooped and cried, they banged pots and pans, they tossed confetti into the air.· Jeremiah comes running and squeals with delight as Dad tosses him in the air and spins him around his shoulders.· He tossed one into the air, then the other.
· He has no one to play ball with and tosses his ball against the wall in a most despondent fashion.· He stepped around the center and nearly had Banks down when the quarterback tossed the ball away.· In fact, the scrum-half almost cost his side a try when he tossed the ball behind him.· One of them tossed a ball high in the air with a screech of laughter.· The game was all but lost when the captain tossed the ball to me and asked me to turn my arm.
· She could hear her tossing restlessly in the bed, as muted sobs escaped from her dreams.· Perhaps in one of these rooms John lay and tossed on a bed of fever.· It had been tossed into a bed of nettles against the wall of the churchyard.· Then her eyes slowly began to focus and she realised that they hadn't just been tossed on to the bed.
· I tossed a coin with Bill Wall for this, and won.· Like tossing a coin to decide on a man's life.· Torn between passing the letter to Alice or Amelia, Robert tossed a coin and settled on the latter.· Next he tossed a small coin on to the coffin.· Athelstan tossed her a coin and asked her to bring a fresh tankard and some wine whilst he roused Sir John.
· When she tossed her head her hair fell around her shoulders and upper arms in a lovely auburn cascade.· Jazz tossed his hair back for the first time to take in what was going on.· I tossed my hair and glided on to the stage.· Automatically, she tossed back her hair and smiled.· She tossed her short black hair.· She sat down at the table for two Roman had selected, and tossed her hair back from her face.
· She checked the labels, shook her head, tossed the bottles back one at a time.· I half-offered it, but Melanie shook her head so I tossed it reluctantly on to the fire.· Benjamin studied these carefully, shook his head and tossed them back.
· The dressing is great tossed with a salad of lettuce, broccoli florets, zucchini and yellow pepper slices.· He tossed the salad tableside in big wooden bowls with much theatrical flair and the customers were entranced.
· Sir John had spent a restless night, tossing from side to side in his great double bed.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► toss a pancakePHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► argue the toss► throw/toss your hat into the ring
1[transitive] to throw something, especially something light, with a quick gentle movement of your handtoss something into/onto etc something- The girl tossed her hair and twisted in her chair.
- And the mare, as if finally understanding, begins to strain, tosses her head wildly, pulls at the reins.
- His horse snorted, tossing its head so that foam flew in dark patches on the ground.
- I tossed my hair and glided on to the stage.
- Karen tossed her head back, sending her hair over her left shoulder.
- The animal plunged to a halt, snorting and tossing its head nervously as water sprayed into the air around them.
- The Lieutenant's horse was tossing its head, snorting, raising its bright hooves high as it trampled the crop.
- Then the fox tossed his head and gulped down the Gingerbread Man.
- Two goats will circle head to tail in a display of strength, tossing their heads and posturing and grunting at each other.
- Clarisa tossed it all off as fate.
- When the brandy arrived, he filled a glass and tossed it off, in a gesture of childish defiance.
- Clarisa tossed it all off as fate.
- When the brandy arrived, he filled a glass and tossed it off, in a gesture of childish defiance.
- Clarisa tossed it all off as fate.
- When the brandy arrived, he filled a glass and tossed it off, in a gesture of childish defiance.
- Do you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, or do you toss and turn for hours before dropping off?
- She had slept badly, tossing and turning before falling into a fitful doze.
- If your tossing and turning is taking up needed sleep time, insomnia may be the culprit.
- Recurring thoughts about her conversation with Philippe Fontaine had kept her tossing and turning most of the night.
- She had slept badly, tossing and turning in the heat though the room had been cool enough.
- This, and the sound of heavy machinery passing underneath the window, kept me tossing and turning.
- We like to get out a map, and flip a coin to decide where to go.
- Eddie DeBartolo and Carmen Policy: Flip a coin.
- Given those odds, claims Salsburg, one might as well flip a coin.
- I tossed a coin with Bill Wall for this, and won.
- If memory serves, we actually went into the hall and flipped a coin.
- Like tossing a coin to decide on a man's life.
- The customer wanted to flip a coin about paying the price for a photo of his daughter.
- Torn between passing the letter to Alice or Amelia, Robert tossed a coin and settled on the latter.
- "Have you decided where to go on holiday?'' "Well, it'll be either Portugal or Turkey -- it's a toss-up.''
- I don't know who'll get the job. I guess it's a toss-up between Carl and Steve.
She crumpled the letter and tossed it into the fire.toss something aside/over etc Toss that book over, will you?toss something to somebody ‘Catch!’ said Sandra, tossing her bag to him.toss somebody something Frank tossed her the newspaper.► see thesaurus at throw2[intransitive, transitive] to move about continuously in a violent or uncontrolled way, or to make something do thistoss something around/about The small boat was tossed about like a cork.3toss and turn to keep changing your position in bed because you cannot sleep: I’ve been tossing and turning all night.4[intransitive, transitive] (also toss up) especially British English to throw a coin in the air, so that a decision will be made according to the side that faces upwards when it comes down SYN flip American English: They tossed a coin to decide who would go first.toss (somebody) for it We couldn’t make up our minds, so we decided to toss for it.5[transitive] to throw something up into the air and let it fall to the ground: The crowd cheered, banging pots and tossing confetti into the air.6toss a pancake British English to throw a pancake upwards so that it turns over in the air and lands on the side that you want to cook SYN flip American English7[transitive] to move pieces of food about in a small amount of liquid so that they become covered with the liquid: Toss the carrots in some butter before serving.8toss your head/hair written to move your head or hair back suddenly, often with a shaking movement showing anger: He tossed his head angrily and left the room.toss off phrasal verb1toss something ↔ off to produce something quickly and without much effort: one of those painters who can toss off a couple of pictures before breakfast2toss something ↔ off written to drink something quickly: He tossed off a few whiskies.3toss (somebody) off British English informal not polite to masturbatetoss something/somebody ↔ out phrasal verb American English informal1to get rid of something that you do not want SYN throw out: I tossed most of that stuff out when we moved.2to make someone leave a place, especially because of bad behaviour SYN throw outtoss out of Kurt was tossed out of the club for trying to start a fight.toss1 verbtoss2 noun
tosstoss2 noun [countable] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- George faked a toss to Kaufman, and ran in for a touchdown.
- With a toss of her head, she walked out of the room.
- And at Chelmsford Northants are batting after winning the toss against Essex.
- Gooch won an important toss, put West Indies in, and before long five wickets were down for 29.
- I don't give - toss how long he's had to learn the part or how difficult it's been.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The toss of a coin decided who would go first. Malory won the toss and will serve. ‘I’ll see,’ the nurse said, with an officious toss of her head.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
The toss of a coin decided who would go first. Malory won the toss and will serve. ‘I’ll see,’ the nurse said, with an officious toss of her head. (=mix it all together, usually with a dressing)
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► argue the toss► throw/toss your hat into the ring
1the act of throwing a coin in the air to decide something, especially who will do something first in a game: - We like to get out a map, and flip a coin to decide where to go.
- Eddie DeBartolo and Carmen Policy: Flip a coin.
- Given those odds, claims Salsburg, one might as well flip a coin.
- I tossed a coin with Bill Wall for this, and won.
- If memory serves, we actually went into the hall and flipped a coin.
- Like tossing a coin to decide on a man's life.
- The customer wanted to flip a coin about paying the price for a photo of his daughter.
- Torn between passing the letter to Alice or Amelia, Robert tossed a coin and settled on the latter.
- "Have you decided where to go on holiday?'' "Well, it'll be either Portugal or Turkey -- it's a toss-up.''
- I don't know who'll get the job. I guess it's a toss-up between Carl and Steve.
The toss of a coin decided who would go first.win/lose the toss Malory won the toss and will serve.2a sudden backwards movement of your head, so that your hair moves, often showing anger: ‘I’ll see,’ the nurse said, with an officious toss of her head.3a gentle throw4not give a toss British English spoken to not care about something at all: I really couldn’t give a toss what Sam thinks. → argue the toss at argue(5)