throw (throws plural & 3rd person present) (throwing present participle) (threw past tense) (thrown past participle )
1 verb When you throw an object that you are holding, you move your hand or arm quickly and let go of the object, so that it moves through the air.
He spent hours throwing a tennis ball against a wall... V n prep/adv
The crowd began throwing stones... V n
Sophia jumps up and throws down her knitting... V n with adv
He threw Brian a rope. V n n
Throw is also a noun., n-count oft N of n
One of the judges thought it was a foul throw..., A throw of the dice allows a player to move himself forward.
throwing n-uncount usu with supp
He didn't really know very much about javelin throwing.
2 verb If you throw your body or part of your body into a particular position or place, you move it there suddenly and with a lot of force.
She threw her arms around his shoulders... V n prep
She threatened to throw herself in front of a train... V pron-refl prep/adv
He set his skinny legs apart and threw back his shoulders. V n with adv
3 verb If you throw something into a particular place or position, you put it there in a quick and careless way.
He struggled out of his bulky jacket and threw it on to the back seat... V n prep/adv
4 verb To throw someone into a particular place or position means to force them roughly into that place or position.
He threw me to the ground and started to kick... V n prep/adv
The device exploded, throwing Mr Taylor from his car. V n prep/adv
5 verb If you say that someone is throwninto prison, you mean that they are put there by the authorities, especially if this seems unfair or cruel.
Those two should have been thrown in jail... be V-ed in/into n
Police should have the power to fine people who hamper rescue efforts. In fact I'd throw them into prison for a night. V n in/into n
6 verb If a horse throws its rider, it makes him or her fall off, by suddenly jumping or moving violently.
The horse reared, throwing its rider and knocking down a youth standing beside it. V n
7 verb If a person or thing is throwninto an unpleasant situation or state, something causes them to be in that situation or state.
Abidjan was thrown into turmoil because of a protest by taxi drivers... be V-ed prep
Economic recession had thrown millions out of work... V n prep
8 verb If something throws light or a shadow on a surface, it causes that surface to have light or a shadow on it.
(=cast)
The sunlight is white and blinding, throwing hard-edged shadows on the ground. V n on/onto n
9 verb If something throws doubt on a person or thing, it causes people to doubt or suspect them.
(=cast)
This new information does throw doubt on their choice... V n on/upon n
10 verb If you throw a look or smile at someone or something, you look or smile at them quickly and suddenly.
no cont
Emily turned and threw her a suggestive grin. V n n, Also V n at n
11 verb If you throw yourself, your energy, or your money into a particular job or activity, you become involved in it very actively or enthusiastically.
She threw herself into a modelling career... V pron-refl into n
They threw all their military resources into the battle. V n into n
12 verb If you throw a fit or a tantrum, you suddenly start to behave in an uncontrolled way.
I used to get very upset and scream and swear, throwing tantrums all over the place. V n
13 verb If something such as a remark or an experience throws you, it surprises you or confuses you because it is unexpected.
The professor rather threw me by asking if I went in for martial arts... V n
14 verb If you throw a punch, you punch someone.
Everything was fine until someone threw a punch. V n
15 verb When someone throws a party, they organize one, usually in their own home.
INFORMAL Why not throw a party for your friends? V n
16 verb In sports, if a player throws a game or contest, they lose it as a result of a deliberate action or intention.
...offering him a bribe to throw the game. V n
17 n-count A throw is a light rug, blanket, or cover for a sofa or bed.
18 If things cost a particular amount of money a throw, they cost that amount each.
INFORMAL
a throw phrase amount PHR
Most applications software for personal computers cost over $500 a throw.
19 If someone throws themselves at you, they make it very obvious that they want to begin a relationship with you, by behaving as though they are sexually attracted to you.
throw oneself at sb phrase V inflects
I'll say you started it, that you threw yourself at me.
20
→
to throw someone in at the deep end
→
end
→
to throw down the gauntlet
→
gauntlet
→
to throw light on something
→
light
→
to throw in your lot with someone
→
lot
→
to throw money at something
→
money
→
to throw good money after bad
→
money
→
to throw a spanner in the works
→
spanner
→
a stone's throw
→
stone
→
to throw in the towel
→
towel
→
to throw your weight about
→
weight
→
to throw a wrench
→
wrench throw away , throw out
1 phrasal verb When you throw away or throw out something that you do not want, you get rid of it, for example by putting it in a rubbish container.
I never throw anything away... V n P
I'm not advising you to throw away your makeup or forget about your appearance. V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If you throw away an opportunity, advantage, or benefit, you waste it, rather than using it sensibly.
Failing to tackle the deficit would be throwing away an opportunity we haven't had for a generation... V P n (not pron)
We should have won. We threw it away. V n P
→
throwaway throw back
1 phrasal verb If you throw something backat a person, you remind them of something bad they did in the past, in order to upset them.
I should never have told you that. I knew you'd throw it back at me. V n P at n, Also V P at n n
2 phrasal verb If someone is thrown backon their own powers or resources, they have to use them, because there is nothing else they can use.
usu passive
We are constantly thrown back on our own resources. be V-ed P on n throw down phrasal verb If you throw down a challenge to someone, you do something new or unexpected in a bold or forceful manner that will probably cause them to reply or react equally strongly.
The regional parliament threw down a new challenge to the central authorities by passing a law allowing private ownership of businesses... V P n (not pron)
Government ministers have been responding to the challenge thrown down by their former colleague. V-ed P throw in
1 phrasal verb If you throw in a remark when having a conversation, you add it in a casual or unexpected way.
(=toss in)
Occasionally Farling threw in a question. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
2 phrasal verb If a person who is selling something throws in something extra, they give you the extra thing and only ask you to pay for the first thing.
(=include)
Pay £4.80 for larger prints and they throw in a free photo album... V P n (not pron)
They were offering me a weekend break in Paris<endash>with free beer thrown in. V-ed P, Also V n P throw off
1 phrasal verb If you throw off something that is restricting you or making you unhappy, you get rid of it.
(=cast off)
...a country ready to throw off the shackles of its colonial past... V P n (not pron)
One day depression descended upon him, and wherever he went after that he could never throw it off. V n P
2 phrasal verb If something throws off a substance, it produces it and releases it into the air.
(=give off)
The belt may make a squealing noise and throw off sooty black particles of rubber... V P n (not pron)
3 phrasal verb If you throw off people who are chasing you or trying to find you, you do something unexpected that makes them unable to catch you or find you.
He is said to have thrown off pursuers by pedaling across the Wisconsin state line... V P n (not pron)
He tried to throw police off the track of his lover. V n P n, Also V n P throw out
2 phrasal verb If a judge throws out a case, he or she rejects it and the accused person does not have to stand trial.
The defense wants the district Judge to throw out the case. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
3 phrasal verb If you throw someone out, you force them to leave a place or group.
He was thrown out of the Olympic team after testing positive for drugs... be/get V-ed P of n
I wanted to kill him, but instead I just threw him out of the house... V n P of n
The party threw out the Trotskyist Militant Tendency. V P n (not pron), Also V n P throw together
1 phrasal verb If you throw something together, for example a meal or a costume, you make it quickly and not very carefully.
INFORMAL Too often, picnic preparation consists of throwing together some sandwiches and grabbing an apple. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
2 phrasal verb If people are thrown together by a situation or event, it causes them to get to know each other, even though they may not want to.
The cast and crew were thrown together for 12 hours a day, six days a week, until the filming was completed... pl-n be V-ed P
If you have men and women thrown together in inhospitable surroundings, you are going to get some sexual tension... V-ed P
My husband is constantly thrown together with young people through his work. be V-ed P with n, Also V pl-n P, V P pl-n (not pron), V n P with n throw up
1 phrasal verb When someone throws up, they vomit.
INFORMAL She said she had thrown up after reading reports of the trial. V P
2 phrasal verb If something throws up dust, stones, or water, when it moves or hits the ground, it causes them to rise up into the air.
If it had hit the Earth, it would have made a crater 100 miles across and thrown up an immense cloud of dust. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
3 phrasal verb To throw up a particular person or thing means to produce them or cause them to become noticeable. (mainly BRIT) The political struggle threw up a strong leader... V P n (not pron)
throw-in (throw-ins plural )When there is a throw-in in a football or rugby match, the ball is thrown back onto the field after it has been kicked off it. n-count
