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throw
[ throh ]
verb (used with object)
- to propel or cast in any way, especially to project or propel from the hand by a sudden forward motion or straightening of the arm and wrist:
to throw a ball.
- to hurl or project (a missile), as a gun does.
- to project or cast (light, a shadow, etc.).
- to project (the voice).
- to make it appear that (one's voice) is coming from a place different from its source, as in ventriloquism.
- to direct or send forth (words, a glance, etc.).
- to put or cause to go or come into some place, position, condition, etc., as if by hurling:
to throw someone into prison;
to throw a bridge across a river;
to throw troops into action.
- to put on, off, or away hastily:
to throw a shawl over one's shoulders.
- Machinery.
- to move (a lever or the like) in order to activate, turn on, disconnect, etc., an apparatus or mechanism:
to throw the switch.
- to connect, engage, disconnect, or disengage by such a procedure:
to throw the current.
- to shape on a potter's wheel:
to throw a vase.
- to bring to bear or invest:
Throw all your energy into your work.
The FBI threw every available agent into the case.
- to deliver (a blow or punch):
He threw a hard left jab to his opponent's chin.
- to cause to fall to the ground, especially to hurl to the ground, as an opponent in wrestling.
- Cards. to play (a card).
- to lose (a game, race, or other contest) intentionally, as for a bribe.
- to cast (dice).
- to make (a cast) at dice:
She threw two sixes.
- (of an animal, as a horse) to cause (someone) to fall off; unseat:
The horse threw his rider twice.
- to organize and host:
They threw a lavish party celebrating his 80th birthday.
- (of domestic animals) to bring forth (young).
- Textiles. to twist (filaments) without attenuation in the production of yarn or thread.
- Informal. to overcome with astonishment or confusion; amaze, disconcert, or confuse:
It was her falsetto voice on top of it all that really threw me.
- to turn on a lathe.
verb (used without object)
- to cast, fling, or hurl a missile or the like.
noun
For your first time playing catch, I'd have to say that was a great throw!
- the distance to which anything is or may be thrown:
a stone's throw.
- Informal. a venture or chance:
It was his last throw.
- Machinery.
- the distance between the center of a crankshaft and the center of the crankpins, equal to one half of the piston stroke.
- the distance between the center of a crankshaft and the center of an eccentric.
- the movement of a reciprocating part in one direction.
- (in a movie theater) the distance between the projector and the screen.
- (in an auditorium or the like) the distance between a loudspeaker and the audience.
- the length of a beam of light:
a spotlight with a throw of 500 feet.
- Theater.
- the distance to which a spotlight can be projected.
- the area illuminated by a spotlight.
- a scarf, boa, shawl, or the like.
- a light blanket, as for use when reclining on a sofa.
- a cast of dice.
- the number thrown with a pair of dice.
- Wrestling. the act, method, or an instance of throwing an opponent.
- Geology, Mining. the amount of vertical displacement produced by a fault.
verb phrase
- to dispose of; discard.
- to employ wastefully; squander.
- to fail to use; miss (a chance, opportunity, etc.):
He threw away a college education and a professional career.
- (of a performer) to speak or tell (lines, a joke, etc.) casually or indifferently.
- Informal.
- to add as a bonus or gratuity:
They throw in breakfast with the room.
- to bring into (a discussion, plan, etc.) as an addition; interject:
The president threw in an amusing anecdote to relieve the tension.
- Cards. to abandon (a hand).
- to give up; relinquish.
- to build hastily.
- to vomit.
- to point out, as an error; criticize.
- (of a hawk) to fly suddenly upward.
- to make in a hurried and haphazard manner.
- to cause to associate:
Many nationalities have been thrown together in the American melting pot.
- to retard the development or advancement of:
His illness threw him back a year at school.
- to force into dependence upon or necessary use of.
- to return to; hark back.
- to revert to a type found in one's ancestry; manifest atavism:
Her red hair and blue eyes throw back to her great-grandmother.
- to free oneself of; cast aside:
to throw off the wet poncho;
to throw off the yoke of slavery.
- to escape from or delay, as a pursuer.
- to give off; discharge.
- to perform or produce with ease:
The entertainer threw off a few songs and jokes to begin the show.
- to confuse; fluster:
Thrown off by jeers, she forgot her lines.
- Australian Slang. to criticize or ridicule (usually followed by at ).
- to fight or to challenge someone to a fight:
You wanna throw down with me, punk?
- to give a share of the cost; contribute (money):
Are you going to throw down for this pizza, or what?
- to produce or execute (something) successfully; put down:
The skiers threw down a few good runs before the snow turned to slush.
- to cast down; cause to drop:
Throw down your weapons and surrender!
- to forsake; abandon:
She threw over her first husband for another man.
- to cast away; remove; discard.
- to bring up for consideration; propose:
The committee threw out a few suggestions.
- to put out of mind; reject:
We can throw out that scheme.
- Baseball. to cause to be out by throwing the ball to a fielder, especially an infielder, in time to prevent a batter or runner from reaching base safely:
The shortstop backhanded the ball and threw the batter out at first.
- to eject from a place, especially forcibly:
He started making a disturbance so the bartenders threw him out.
- to expel, as from membership in a club.
throw
/ θrəʊ /
verb
- also intr to project or cast (something) through the air, esp with a rapid motion of the arm and wrist
- foll byin, on, onto, etc to put or move suddenly, carelessly, or violently
she threw her clothes onto the bed
- to bring to or cause to be in a specified state or condition, esp suddenly or unexpectedly
the news threw the family into a panic
- to direct or cast (a shadow, light, etc)
- to project (the voice) so as to make it appear to come from other than its source
- to give or hold (a party)
- to cause to fall or be upset; dislodge
the horse soon threw his rider
- to tip (dice) out onto a flat surface
- to obtain (a specified number) in this way
- to shape (clay) on a potter's wheel
- to move (a switch or lever) to engage or disengage a mechanism
- to be subjected to (a fit)
- to turn (wood, etc) on a lathe
- informal.to baffle or astonish; confuse
the last question on the test paper threw me
- boxing to deliver (a punch)
- wrestling to hurl (an opponent) to the ground
- informal.to lose (a contest, fight, etc) deliberately, esp in boxing
- to play (a card)
- to discard (a card)
- (of a female animal, esp a cow) to give birth to (young)
- to twist or spin (filaments) into thread
- throw cold water on something informal.to be unenthusiastic about or discourage something
- throw oneself atto strive actively to attract the attention or affection of
- throw oneself intoto involve oneself enthusiastically in
- throw oneself onto rely entirely upon
he threw himself on the mercy of the police
noun
- the act or an instance of throwing
- the distance or extent over which anything may be thrown
a stone's throw
- informal.a chance, venture, or try
- an act or result of throwing dice
- the eccentricity of a cam
- the radial distance between the central axis of a crankshaft and the axis of a crankpin forming part of the shaft
- a decorative light blanket or cover, as thrown over a chair
- a sheet of fabric used for draping over an easel or unfinished painting, etc, to keep the dust off
- geology the vertical displacement of rock strata at a fault
- physics the deflection of a measuring instrument as a result of a sudden fluctuation
Derived Forms
- ˈthrower, noun
Other Words From
- mis·throw verb misthrew misthrown misthrowing
Word History and Origins
Origin of throw1
Word History and Origins
Origin of throw1
Idioms and Phrases
- a throw, Informal. each:
He ordered four suits at $300 a throw.
- throw (someone or something) to the wolves / dogs, Informal. wolf ( def 13 ).
- throw (someone or something) under the bus, Informal. bus 1( def 11 ).
- throw in the sponge, Informal. sponge ( def 21 ).
- throw in the towel, Informal. towel ( def 3 ).
- throw oneself at someone / someone's head, to strive to attract the interest or attention of, especially in order to win the love or admiration of:
Don't expect me to throw myself at you.
- throw oneself into, to engage in with energy or enthusiasm:
She threw herself into learning the new routines.
- throw oneself on / upon someone, to commit oneself to another's mercy, generosity, support, etc.; trust in:
The members of his wife's family have all thrown themselves on him.
- throw the bull, Slang. bull 2( def 2 ).
- throw cold water on. cold ( def 31 ).
- throw down the gauntlet / glove. gauntlet 1( def 5 ).
- throw one's hat in the ring. hat ( def 8 ).
- throw out the baby with the bathwater. bathwater ( def 2 ).
More idioms and phrases containing throw
- cast (throw) one's lot with
- cast (throw) the first stone
- have (throw) a fit
- (throw) in one's face
- knock (throw) for a loop
- pour (throw) cold water on
- shed (throw) light on
- stone's throw
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Gabriel has been one of the most efficient passers in college football, throwing for 3,558 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions while maintaining a 73.2% completion rate.
Every shortstop who throws the ball high would appreciate his height and reach.
During their advance on Damascus, opposition groups announced taking over a number of prisons and throwing their doors open to release longtime political detainees.
Sophomore quarterback Ryan Rakowksi ran for 97 yards on 12 carries and completed six of 11 throws for 49 yards, making key plays to move the chains.
"So we threw it away and got on with turning the first two floors into workspaces for local businesses that we knew wanted to rent them."
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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