throw up
Britishverb
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to give up; abandon, relinquish
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to build or construct hastily
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to reveal; produce
every generation throws up its own leaders
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informal (also intr) to vomit
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Vomit, as in The new drug makes many patients throw up . [First half of 1700s]
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Abandon, relinquish, as in After the results of the poll came in, she threw up her campaign for the Senate .
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Construct hurriedly, as in The builder threw up three houses in a matter of a few months . [Late 1500s]
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throw it up to . Criticize, upbraid, as in Dad was always throwing it up to the boys that they were careless and messy . [Early 1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And it might just be one of those twists of fate football can throw up as Gakpo delivered a masterclass of creation that meant this game was effectively over after nine minutes.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
This doesn’t mean, however, that parenting doesn’t matter, or that we should throw up our hands and say, “What’s the point?”
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
Before she gives her notice, she tells her husband she feels like she’s going to throw up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
Among other agenda items, nations will consider how to equitably reduce fossil fuel production and consumption, and reforming subsidies that throw up barriers to renewable energy investment.
From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026
I'm not going to throw up, pass out, or stop.
From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan
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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.