verb | noun
throwthrow1 /θroʊ/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense threw /θru/, past participle thrown /θroʊn/) 1
THROW A BALL/STONE ETC. [intransitive, transitive] to make an object such as a ball move quickly from your hand through the air by moving your arm quickly and letting go of the object: She can throw pretty well for a little girl.throw something at/to/toward etc. somebody/something Someone threw a bottle at him.throw somebody something Could you throw me an apple?THESAURUStoss – to throw something without much force: She tossed her coat onto the bed.hurl – to throw something with a lot of force: They hurled a brick through his window.fling – to throw something somewhere with a lot of force, often in a careless way: He flung her keys into the river.pass – to throw, kick, or hit a ball to another member of your team: He passed the ball to Jones, who scored.pitch – to throw the ball to the person who is trying to hit the ball in a game of baseball: Try to pitch the ball right over home plate.shoot – to throw a ball toward the basket or goal in a sport such as basketball: She dribbled up to the basket, shot and scored!lob – to throw, hit, or kick something so that it moves slowly in a high curve: He lobbed the ball to the coach.cast – to throw a fishing net or line into the water. Cast is also used in literary language to mean throw: The fishermen cast their nets into the water. Zeus picked up the boulder and cast it far out into the sea.2PUT something CARELESSLY [transitive always + adv./prep.] to put something somewhere quickly and carelessly: throw something on/onto/down etc. I quickly threw my clothes into a bag and left.3PUSH ROUGHLY [transitive always + adv./prep.] to make someone or something move roughly and violently in a particular direction or into a particular position: throw somebody/something into/from etc. something The force of the blast threw her into the air.throw a door/window open James threw the door open and ran into the house. Police threw the attacker to the ground.4MOVE HANDS/HEAD ETC. [transitive always + adv./prep.] to suddenly and quickly move your body or a part of your body into a new position: throw something back/up/around etc. He threw his head back and laughed. She threw her arms around his neck.throw yourself at/on/into/down etc. He threw himself onto the bench.throw up your hands (in horror/protest/disgust etc.) (=put your hands in the air to show you think something is not good)5MAKE somebody FALL [transitive] a)to make your opponent fall in a sport in which you fight b)if a horse throws its rider it makes them fall onto the ground6throw somebody into prison/jail to suddenly put someone in prison: Taylor was thrown into prison for attempted murder.7throw somebody out of work/office etc. to suddenly take away someone’s job or position of authority: More than 500 employees were thrown out of work.8CONFUSE/SURPRISE [transitive] to confuse or surprise someone, especially by suddenly saying something: Mom was completely thrown by news of their engagement. His death threw her for a loop (=confused and shocked her). The rude suggestion had thrown her off balance.9QUESTION/REMARK ETC. [transitive] to suddenly or quickly ask questions of someone or say something to him or her, especially in an angry way: throw something at somebody The questions he was throwing at her surprised her.10throw suspicion/doubt on something (also throw something into question) to make people think that someone is probably guilty or that something may not be true: New evidence has thrown doubt on his innocence.11throw somebody a look/glance/smile etc. (also throw a look/glance etc. at somebody) to quickly look at someone with a particular expression that shows how you are feeling: Hanson threw a mean look at her.12throw a party/bash etc. to organize a party and invite people: Let’s throw a party to celebrate.13throw a fit/tantrum to react in a very angry, and often physical, way14throw a switch/handle/lever to make a large machine or piece of electrical equipment start or stop working by moving a switch15throw your weight around to use your position of authority to tell people what to do in an unreasonable way16throw your weight behind somebody/something to use all your power and influence to support someone or something17throw light/shadows/rays etc. written to make light, shadows, etc. fall on a particular place: The buildings threw long shadows across the courtyard.18throw cold water on something to say that a plan, suggestion, etc. is unlikely to succeed, or to prevent a plan from succeeding19throw money down the drain (also throw good money after bad) to waste money by spending it on something that has already failed or that is of bad quality20throw something open (to somebody) (also throw open something (to somebody)) a)to allow people to go into a place that is usually kept private: The Center will throw open its doors to the public July 8. b)to allow anyone to take part in a competition or a discussion21throw a game/match/fight etc. to deliberately and dishonestly lose a fight or sports game that you could have won22throw the baby out with the bath water disapproving to get rid of the good parts of a system, organization, etc. in addition to the bad parts, when you are changing it in order to try and make it better23throw something (back) in somebody’s face (also throw something back at somebody) a)to remind someone of something that he or she has done to embarrass or upset him or her b)to be unkind to someone after he or she has been kind to you or helped you24throw a punch/a left/a right etc. to try to hit someone with your hand in a fight25throw your voice to make your voice sound as if it is coming from a different place from the place where you are26DICE [transitive] to roll dice in a game: I need to throw a five to win.27POT [transitive] to make a clay object such as a bowl, using a potter’s wheel[Origin: Old English thrawan to cause to twist or turn] → see also throw/fling/cast caution to the wind(s) at caution1 (3), throw/toss your hat into the ring at hat (3), shed/throw light on something at light1 (9)throw something ↔ aside phrasal verb to refuse to accept or use something anymorethrow at phrasal verb1throw yourself at somebody informal to make it very clear to someone that you want to have a sexual relationship with him or her: It’s embarrassing how she throws herself at me.2throw the book at somebody informal to punish someone as severely as possible, or to charge someone with as many offenses as possible in a court of law3throw money at somebody/something informal to try to solve a problem by spending a lot of money, but without really thinking carefully about the problemthrow something ↔ away phrasal verb1to get rid of something that you do not want or need: If it’s broken, go ahead and throw it away.2to waste something good that you have, for example a skill, advantage, or opportunity: The team threw away a 12-point lead.throw something ↔ back phrasal verb informal to drink something very quickly: Ted quickly threw back three shots of whiskey.throw somebody back on something phrasal verb formal to force someone to depend on his or her own skills, knowledge, etc.throw in phrasal verb1throw something ↔ in to add something to what you are selling, without increasing the price: If you buy the bike, I’ll throw in the lock.2throw in the towel informal to stop doing something because you cannot succeed3throw something ↔ in if you throw in a remark, you say it suddenly without thinking carefullythrow into phrasal verb1throw yourself into something to start doing an activity eagerly and using a lot of time and effort: After the divorce, she threw herself into her work.2throw something into confusion/chaos/disarray etc. to suddenly put a situation or group of people in an unpleasant and confusing state: The new computer system has thrown the office into chaos.throw off phrasal verb1CONFUSE somebody throw somebody ↔ off to make someone slightly confused or surprised, especially in a way that makes him or her not sure what to do next: She didn’t let the mix-up throw her off.2GET FREE FROM something throw somebody/something ↔ off to get free from someone or something that has been limiting your freedom: throw off the yoke/shackles of something The country has thrown off the yoke of communism.3MAKE somebody LEAVE throw somebody ↔ off, throw somebody off something to force someone to leave a bus, train, airplane, etc.: They threw him off the bus for making too much noise.4ESCAPE FROM somebody/something throw somebody/something ↔ off to escape from someone or something that is chasing you5TAKE OFF CLOTHES throw something ↔ off to take off a piece of clothing in a quick careless way: She threw off her jacket as she came in.6throw somebody off the scent/trail to stop someone from finding you or finding out the truth: He attempted to throw police off his trail by dressing as a woman.7PRODUCE HEAT/LIGHT ETC. throw something ↔ off to produce large amounts of heat, light, radiation, etc.8GET RID OF ILLNESS throw something ↔ off if you throw off a slight illness such as a cold, you succeed in getting better fairly quicklythrow something ↔ on phrasal verb to put on a piece of clothing quickly and carelessly: Give me a minute to throw some clothes on, and I’ll go with you.throw out phrasal verb1GET RID OF something throw something ↔ out to get rid of something that you do not want or need, especially when you are cleaning a place: My wife made me throw out my old tennis shoes.2MAKE somebody LEAVE throw somebody ↔ out to make someone leave a place, school, organization, etc. quickly, especially because he or she has been behaving badly or made you angry: throw somebody out of something He was thrown out of school for selling drugs.3REFUSE TO ACCEPT something throw something ↔ out if a committee, a court, Congress, etc. throws out a plan, suggestion, etc., they refuse to accept it: Simon’s case was thrown out of court.4TAKE AWAY JOB throw somebody ↔ out to suddenly take away someone’s job or position of authority: Voters are expected to throw the ruling party out.5throw out an idea to suggest an idea: Let me throw out a few ideas and see what you think about them.throw together phrasal verb1throw something ↔ together to make something quickly and not very carefully: Our report was thrown together this morning.2throw somebody ↔ together if a situation throws people together, it makes them meet and know each other when they normally would not: The war had thrown them together.throw up phrasal verb1 throw (something ↔) up to bring food or drink up from your stomach and out through your mouth SYN vomit: The smell almost made me throw up.2 throw something ↔ up to build something quickly: Citizens threw up roadblocks.3 throw something ↔ up if a vehicle throws up dirt, water, etc., it makes it go up in the air verb | noun
throwthrow2 ●●○ noun [countable] 1an act of throwing something such as a ball, or the distance it is thrown: a perfect throw to third base2a large piece of cloth that you put over a chair to cover it and make it look attractive3the action of making your opponent fall to the ground in a sport such as judo or wrestling4the action or result of throwing something such as a dart or dice in a game