be thrown away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be thrown away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that is discarded or disposed of. Example: "After the event, any leftover food will be thrown away to avoid waste."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Whatever is left will be thrown away.

The New York Times

And not everything should be thrown away.

The Guardian

Even they do not deserve to be thrown away".

The New Yorker

That is not a card to be thrown away lightly.

The Guardian - Opinion

Enzymes are expensive, and not to be thrown away lightly.

The Economist

It's that no one can be thrown away.

The New York Times - Books

Second, there are costs associated with making a defective product that will be thrown away.

Materials Enabled Designs

Thousands of litres of milk had to be thrown away.

The Guardian

had stacks of old papers which should be thrown away.

The New Yorker

"The leaves are leftover rubbish that would be thrown away.

The Guardian - Travel

The gun would then have to be thrown away.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about waste management or recycling, use "be thrown away" to directly indicate the act of discarding something. For instance, specify which materials "can be thrown away" after use versus those that need recycling.

Common error

While "be thrown away" is acceptable, avoid using it excessively in formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives such as "be discarded" or "be disposed of" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be thrown away" functions as a passive verb construction, indicating that the subject is receiving the action of being discarded. It is commonly used to describe items or concepts that are no longer needed or are considered worthless, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be thrown away" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of discarding something. Ludwig confirms its usage across various contexts, from news and media to scientific and general writing. While its register leans toward neutral to slightly informal, more formal alternatives like "be discarded" may be preferable in academic or professional settings. To avoid overuse, writers should consider using alternatives such as "be disposed of" or "be eliminated" depending on the specific nuance they wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be discarded

Focuses on the act of rejecting something as useless or unwanted.

be disposed of

Emphasizes the proper and often formal method of getting rid of something.

be jettisoned

Implies a forceful or rapid abandonment, often in a crisis situation.

be scrapped

Suggests that something is broken or unusable and is being taken apart for salvage.

be rejected

Highlights the act of refusing to accept something.

be eliminated

Indicates a systematic removal or eradication of something.

be removed

Simple removal of something.

be trashed

Informal way of saying something is completely ruined or worthless and thus discarded.

be relinquished

Indicates a voluntary surrender or abandonment of something.

be abandoned

Suggests leaving something behind, often because it's no longer needed or useful.

FAQs

How can I use "be thrown away" in a sentence?

You can use "be thrown away" to indicate that something is being discarded, for example: "Any food scraps should "be thrown away" after the meal."

What is a more formal alternative to "be thrown away"?

In formal writing, you might prefer phrases like "be discarded" or "be disposed of" instead of "be thrown away."

Is there a difference between "be thrown away" and "be recycled"?

"Be thrown away" means something is discarded as trash, whereas "be recycled" means something is processed to be reused.

When should I use "be thrown away" versus "be given away"?

Use "be thrown away" when an item is unusable or unwanted and destined for the trash. Use "be given away" when an item is still useful and is being donated or gifted to someone else.