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throw away

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throw something away

to toss something out; to dispose of something. Should I throw this away? Don't throw away anything that might be useful.

See also: away, throw

throw away something

also throw something away

to fail to use an opportunity Milton threw away his chance of promotion by being late almost every day. It's a chance to audition for the Metropolitan Opera - don't throw it away. Related vocabulary: blow it

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of throw away something (to get rid of something)

See also: away, throw

throw away

1. Also, throw or toss out . Dispose of, discard, as in This coat is too good to throw away, or Did you throw out the rest of the milk? or She tossed out all his old letters. [First half of 1500s]

2. Waste, fail to use, as in She's thrown away her inheritance on all kinds of foolish enterprises, or He's thrown away his chances for an engineering job. [Mid-1600s]

3. Also, throw out. Utter or perform in an offhand, seemingly careless way, as in He threw away the news that their summer cottage had been broken into, or She threw out some suggestions for changing the bylaws. [First half of 1900s]

See also: away, throw

throw away

v.

1. To get rid of something as useless; discard something: I threw away yesterday's newspaper. They gave us extra tickets, but we threw them away.

2. To fail to take advantage of something: They threw away a chance to make a fortune. The students had an opportunity for a great education, but they threw it away.

3. To waste or use something in a foolish way: He threw away his inheritance on poor investments. She won some money in the lottery, but she threw it away.

4. To utter or perform something in an offhand, seemingly careless way: The play's villain throws away the news that the house has burned down.

5. Sports To throw some football so that the pass is ruled incomplete: Unable to find an open receiver, the quarterback threw the ball away. The quarterback threw away the football to stop the clock.

See also: away, throw