I. throw1 S1 W1 /θrəʊ $ θroʊ/
verb (
past tense threw /θruː/,
past participle thrown /θrəʊn $ θroʊn/)
[
Language: Old English;
Origin: thrawan 'to cause to twist or turn']
1. THROW A BALL/STONE ETC [intransitive and transitive] to make an object such as a ball move quickly through the air by pushing your hand forward quickly and letting the object go
throw something to somebody
He threw his shirt to someone in the crowd.throw something at somebody/something Someone threw a stone at the car. a crowd of boys throwing snowballs at each otherthrow somebody something Throw me that towel, would you.► You throw something
to someone when you want them to catch it. You throw something
at someone when you want to hit them.
2. PUT SOMETHING CARELESSLY [transitive 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 [transitive 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 [transitive] a) to make your opponent fall to the ground in a sport in which you fight
b) if a horse throws its rider, it makes them fall onto the ground
5. MOVE HANDS/HEAD ETC [transitive 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 [transitive] 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 etc to 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 somebody in/into prison/jail to put someone in prison:
Anyone who opposes the regime is thrown in jail.9. throw somebody out of work/office etc to 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 somebody/something into confusion/chaos/disarray etc to 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 something to make people think that something is probably not true:
Fresh evidence has thrown doubt on her story.12. throw suspicion on somebody to make people think that someone is probably guilty:
This latest document throws suspicion on the company chairman.13. throw somebody a look/glance/smile etc to 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/tantrum to react in a very angry way:
I can’t tell my parents – they’d throw a fit!15. throw a question/remark etc (at somebody) 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 something open a) to allow people to go into a place that is usually kept private
throw 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 discussion
throw something open to I would now like to throw the debate open to our audience.17. throw a switch/handle/lever to make something start or stop working by moving a control:
He threw a switch and the lights all went out.18. throw a party to organize a party and invite people
19. throw money at something informal to 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 something to 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 something to 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 around to 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 somebody/something to 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 something to 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/shadow to make light or shadow fall on a particular place:
The trees threw long, dark shadows across the cornfield.26. throw the book at somebody informal to 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 something (back) in sb’s face to 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 hand to stop trying to do something
Synonym : give up30. throw yourself at somebody informal to try very hard to attract someone’s attention because you want to have a sexual relationship with them
31. throw a punch to 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/fight to 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 etc to roll
dice or to get a particular number by rolling dice:
You have to throw a six to start.34. throw a pot to make a pot by shaping clay as it turns round on a special wheel
35. throw your voice to use a special trick to make your voice seem to be coming from a different place from the place you are standing
36. 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 water to get rid of good useful parts of a system, organization etc when you are changing it in order to try and make it better
⇒
throw in/cast your lot with somebody at
lot2(8)
[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲
throwverb1. 
BAD: He picked up a small stone and threw it to Sally's window.
GOOD: He picked up a small stone and threw it at Sally's window.
Usage Note:You
throw an object
at the person or thing you want to hit (NOT
to ): 'One day Dr Roseberry lost his temper and threw a book at me.'
2. BAD: Some smokers just throw their cigarette ends.
GOOD: Some smokers just throw their cigarette ends on the ground.
Usage Note: throw sth +
away/down/on the ground etc : 'You could save the paper for recycling instead of just throwing it away.'
[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲
throw 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.toss (
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?hurl to throw something with a lot of force:
Someone hurled a brick through his window.fling 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.heave /hiːv/ to throw something heavy using a lot of effort:
They heaved the log into the river.lob to throw something high into the air over someone or something:
The police lobbed tear gas canisters over the heads of the demonstrators.pass to throw the ball to another member of your team:
He passed the ball to Wilkinson, who kicked the ball over the goalposts.pitch to throw the ball to the batter in a game of baseball:
Stoddard pitched for the Chicago White Sox.bowl to throw the ball towards the person who is batting in a game of cricket:
Harmison bowled superbly and took 5 wickets. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲
throw 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.toss (
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?hurl to throw something with a lot of force:
Someone hurled a brick through his window.fling 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.heave /hiːv/ to throw something heavy using a lot of effort:
They heaved the log into the river.lob to throw something high into the air over someone or something:
The police lobbed tear gas canisters over the heads of the demonstrators.relationship when two people spend time together or live together because they are romantically or sexually attracted to each other:
After her marriage broke up, she had a series of disastrous relationships. ⇒
relationship with:
I don’t want to start a relationship with her, because I’m going back to South Africa. ⇒
relationship between:
Relationships between people of different cultures are often extremely difficult. ⇒
be in a relationship:
Why are all the interesting men I meet already in relationships? ⇒
sexual relationship:
Several of the psychiatrists admitted to having sexual relationships with patients. ⇒
romantic relationship:
Even at 35, Bobby seemed unable to commit to a romantic relationship.affair a secret sexual relationship between two people, when one or both of them is married to someone else:
The affair had been going on for years before her husband found out. ⇒
affair with:
I had no idea that Mike had an affair with Carolyn! ⇒
love affair:
Burton had been involved in a love affair with a woman who ended up taking most of his money.romance an exciting and often short relationship between two people who feel very much in love with each other:
It was a beautiful summer romance, but they knew it couldn’t last. Richard and Penny had made no great secret of their romance, even though they were both married. ⇒
romance with:
My romance with Lois did not survive our high school graduation. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲