Throw away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Throw away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when instructing someone to discard or dispose of something that is no longer needed or wanted. Example: "Please throw away any trash you find on the floor before leaving the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Throw away your batteries.

MIT Technology Review

"Throw away your Prozac!

Los Angeles Times

Throw away the key.

HuffPost

Throw away the clock.

Huffington Post

Throw away the Tippex.

WikiHow

Throw away unwanted things.

WikiHow

Throw away your prejudices.

WikiHow

Throw away the gloves.

WikiHow

Throw away all bedding.

WikiHow

Throw away your TV.

WikiHow

Throw away the party.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to discard something, be specific about what needs to be thrown away and where it should be disposed of. For example, "Throw away the expired milk in the trash can."

Common error

Avoid confusing "Throw away", which means to discard, with "Give away", which means to donate or offer something for free. For example, "Throw away the broken toy" is different from "Give away the old clothes".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "Throw away" functions primarily as a directive, instructing the listener or reader to discard or dispose of something. Ludwig indicates its correctness, and examples showcase its use in everyday instructions (e.g., "Throw away the trash!") and more figurative contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

56%

News & Media

25%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Throw away" is a highly common and grammatically correct phrasal verb primarily used to instruct the discarding of unwanted items. As Ludwig highlights, its usage spans from simple directions like "Throw away the trash" to more abstract concepts of wasting resources. While it is most frequently found in informal contexts such as wiki articles, its presence in news media and scientific texts demonstrates its broad applicability. When using this phrase, be mindful of the specific context to avoid confusion with similar phrases like "give away" or more formal alternatives like "dispose of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Get rid of

This alternative is a more general term for eliminating something, not necessarily involving physical throwing.

Dispose of

This alternative is more formal and often used for waste management or unwanted items.

Discard

This alternative suggests a more deliberate act of getting rid of something, often because it's no longer useful.

Chuck out

This alternative is informal and suggests a quick or casual way of throwing something away.

Toss out

This alternative is similar to "Chuck out" but slightly less informal.

Bin

This alternative is a British English term for putting something in the trash.

Eliminate

This alternative focuses on removing something completely, not specifically by throwing.

Jettison

This alternative implies abandoning or discarding something, often in a difficult situation.

Expunge

This alternative is most formal and it suggests removal/deletion from a record.

Waste

This alternative is used metaphorically for example for time or money rather than a physical object.

FAQs

How can I use "Throw away" in a sentence?

You can use "Throw away" to instruct someone to discard something. For example, "Please "throw away" the trash" or "Don't "throw away" the receipt".

What's a more formal alternative to "Throw away"?

A more formal alternative to "Throw away" is "dispose of". For example, instead of saying "Throw away the chemicals", you could say "Dispose of the chemicals properly".

What is the difference between "Throw away" and "Put away"?

"Throw away" means to discard or get rid of something, while "put away" means to return something to its proper place. For instance, "Throw away the garbage" versus "Put away the toys".

What can I say instead of "Throw away" to indicate wasting something?

To indicate wasting something, you can use phrases like "squander", "waste", or "fritter away". For example, "Don't "throw away" your potential" can be rephrased as "Don't "waste" your potential".