Pronunciations (4)
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/θɹəʊ/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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[θɾ̪̊əʊ]
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/θɹoʊ/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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[θɾ̪̊oʊ]
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
Verb
To hurl; to release (an object) with some force from one’s hands, an apparatus, etc. so that it moves rapidly through the air.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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throw a shoe; throw a javelin
More examples (1)
When this conversation was repeated in detail within the hearing of the young woman in question, and undoubtedly for his benefit, Mr. Trevor threw shame to the winds and scandalized the Misses Brewster then and there by proclaiming his father to have been a country storekeeper.
To eject or cause to fall off.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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the horse threw its rider
There the snake throws her enamelled skin.
To move to another position or condition; to displace.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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throw the switch
More examples (1)
This time was most dreadful for Lilian. Thrown on her own resources and almost penniless, she maintained herself and paid the rent of a wretched room near the hospital by working as a charwoman, sempstress, anything. In a moment she had dropped to the level of a casual labourer.
To make (a pot) by shaping clay as it turns on a wheel.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Through practice, you’ll learn how to add the right amount of water as you throw a pot, and your fingers will feel when the pot has reached the proper thickness.
To deliver (the ball) illegally by straightening the bowling arm during delivery.
Usage- Transitive
- of a bowler
To send (an error) to an exception-handling mechanism in order to interrupt normal processing.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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If the file is read-only, the method throws an invalid-operation exception.
To intentionally lose a game.
- Synonyms
- Examples
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The tennis player was accused of taking bribes to throw the match.
More examples (1)
Four pairs of women's doubles badminton players, including the Chinese top seeds, have been ejected from the Olympic tournament for trying to throw matches in an effort to secure a more favourable quarter-final draw.
(of a game where one’s role is throwing something) To perform in a specified way in (a match).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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The pitcher threw a perfect game.
To confuse or mislead.
Usage- Informal
- Transitive
- Examples
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The deliberate red herring threw me at first.
“Jann, why does he hate me so much?” That question threw me. I was expecting a lunatic yelling profanities.
To send hastily or desperately.
Usage- Figurative
- Transitive
- Examples
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Their sergeant threw the troops into pitched battle.
More examples (1)
Stoke threw men forward in numbers as they attempted to find a way back into the game, and Mark Schwarzer was forced into a low save from Huth's close-range effort.
To imprison.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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The magistrate ordered the suspect to be thrown into jail.
The plot of Felix was quickly discovered, and De Lacey and Agatha were thrown into prison.
More examples (1)
The standard method of dealing with an addict was to arrest him, throw him into a cell, and leave him until the agonizing pangs of withdrawal were over.
To organize an event, especially a party.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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She was known for throwing the craziest parties in college.
More examples (2)
And now, Clevelanders hoping to bring the Rock Roll Hall of Fame to their city are throwing a bash to commemorate the 34th birthday of disc Jockey Alan Freed’s “Moondog Coronation Ball”.
Should you be interested, for whatever reason, it will tell you how to throw a party for your 40-year-old husband or your 100-year-old great-grandmother. It also describes games that can be played at various kinds of parties[…]
To roll (a die or dice).
Usage- Transitive or intransitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
The kings came to the agreement between themselves that they would cast lots by the dice to determine who should have this property, and that he who threw the highest should have the district. The Swedish king threw two sixes, and said King Olaf need scarcely throw.
To cause a certain number on the die or dice to be shown after rolling it.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
The kings came to the agreement between themselves that they would cast lots by the dice to determine who should have this property, and that he who threw the highest should have the district. The Swedish king threw two sixes, and said King Olaf need scarcely throw.
To discard.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Declarer threw his queen of spades on the high diamond. He then won the last three tricks with his ace, queen and nine of hearts behind East’s jack third.
To lift or unbalance one’s opponent and then bring him back down to the ground, especially into a position behind the thrower.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
So they stood up, and wrastled another while in silence. Soon the King made trial once again of the fall whereby he had sought to throw him in the first bout, twisting suddenly his right side against Goldry, and catching with his leg Goldry’s leg, and therewith leaning against him with main force.
To change (one’s voice) in order to give the illusion that the voice is that of someone else, or coming from a different place.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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“Then, when I throw my voice, when I speak as someone who’s quite different from me, it starts to feel very authentic.”
To show sudden emotion, especially anger.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Bill runs into the kitchen and tells Dad that Erik is throwing a tantrum. He tells Bill to go back and watch his program and to ignore his brother. Fifteen minutes later, Erik is still screaming[…]
In 1975, pregnant with the second of her three children, she threw a hissy fit to get on a trip to Boston for elected officials.
To project or send forth.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Warwick left the undertaker's shop and retraced his steps until he had passed the lawyer’s office, toward which he threw an affectionate glance.
More examples (1)
In other European cities the president visited this week, people waited for his motorcade to pass to throw insults at him, requiring the police to intervene with batons, water cannons and tear gas.
To make a shape or gesture with the hands.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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I threw scissors but she threw rock and beat me.
The teens were throwing gang signs.
To put on hastily; to spread carelessly.
- Examples
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O’er his fair limbs a flowery vest he threw.
To prepare (a cocktail) by pouring liquid between shakers from a height.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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The barman taught me how to throw a cocktail.
To twist two or more filaments of (silk, etc.) so as to form one thread; to twist together, as singles, in a direction contrary to the twist of the singles themselves; sometimes applied to the whole class of operations by which silk is prepared for the weaver.
- Examples
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A person named Crocket endeavoured to throw silk at Derby in the year 1702 ; but his machinery was imperfect
To select (a pitcher); to assign a pitcher to a given role (such as starter or reliever).
Usage- Slang
- usually
- of a team
- Examples
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I have a minor quibble with Gleason’s decision to throw Lefty Williams in Game Eight with the Series in the balance.
To install (a bridge).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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[…] across the rapid smaragdus-green waters, pouring onward into the country, are thrown three bridges […]
To twist or turn.
Usage- Northern-England
- Scotland
- Obsolete
- Examples
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a thrown nail
Synonym of pass.
To deliver.
Usage- Transitive
- of a punch or boxing combination
- Examples
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[…] not only did I not want to throw a punch at him, I wanted to give him a solid silver token of thanks […]
Of animals: to give birth to (young).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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At the end of the normal gestation period the cow threw two calf mummies as large as cats.
They can kid twice a year if things are right, and they often throw twins and triplets.
Noun
The act of throwing something.
- Examples
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With an accurate throw, he lassoed the cow.
What a great throw by the quarterback!
More examples (2)
The gambler staked everything on one throw of the dice.
If the expression is a throw, we unwind the stack seeking a handler expression.
A move in which one lifts or unbalances one’s opponent and then brings him down to the ground.
One’s ability to throw.
- Examples
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He’s always had a pretty decent throw.
The distance travelled by something thrown.
- Examples
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a stone's throw
Only on the north-east may aught save a winged thing come at the castle, across a smooth grass-grown saddle less than a stone’s throw in width.
The flight of a thrown object.
A distance travelled in general; displacement.
- Examples
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the throw of the piston
More examples (1)
The visibility of the screen image is affected by the length of throw of the projector, the type of projector, the intensity of the projector lamp, and the type of the screen.
A piece of fabric used to cover a bed, sofa or other soft furnishing.
- Synonyms
A single instance, occurrence, venture, or chance.
Usage- Informal
- Examples
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Football tickets are expensive at fifty bucks a throw.
Any of the projections integral to a crankshaft that receive or impart cranking motion from a connecting rod or similar component.
A hand-operated lathe, especially a small lathe used by clockmakers.
Usage- Historical
Noun
A moment, time, occasion.
Usage- Obsolete
A period of time; a while.
Usage- Obsolete
- Examples
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Downe himselfe he layd Vpon the grassie ground, to sleepe a throw; The cold earth was his couch, the hard steele his pillow.
Noun
the act of throwing (propelling something with a rapid movement of the arm and wrist)
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the catcher made a good throw to second base
a single chance or instance
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he couldn't afford $50 a throw
the maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam
- Synonyms
bedclothes consisting of a lightweight cloth covering (an afghan or bedspread) that is casually thrown over something
- Broader terms
casting an object in order to determine an outcome randomly
- Examples
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he risked his fortune on a throw of the dice
Verb
propel through the air
- Synonyms
- Examples
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throw a frisbee
The rocket lofted the space shuttle into the air
move violently, energetically, or carelessly
- Broader terms
- Examples
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She threw herself forwards
to remove
- Examples
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he shed his image as a pushy boss
shed your clothes
place or put with great energy
- Synonyms
- Examples
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She threw the blanket around the child
thrust the money in the hands of the beggar
convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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Throw a glance
She gave me a dirty look
cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation
- Examples
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switch on the light
throw the lever
put or send forth
- Examples
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She threw the flashlight beam into the corner
The setting sun threw long shadows
More examples (2)
cast a spell
cast a warm light
to put into a state or activity hastily, suddenly, or carelessly
- Examples
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Jane threw dinner together
throw the car into reverse
cause to be confused emotionally
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
utter with force; utter vehemently
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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hurl insults
throw accusations at someone
organize or be responsible for
- Broader terms
- Examples
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hold a reception
have, throw, or make a party
More examples (1)
give a course
make on a potter's wheel
- Examples
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she threw a beautiful teapot
cause to fall off
- Examples
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The horse threw its inexperienced rider
throw (a die) out onto a flat surface
- Examples
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Throw a six
be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly
- Examples
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These questions confuse even the experts
This question completely threw me
More examples (1)
This question befuddled even the teacher