throw it all away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "throw it all away" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to express the idea of getting rid of something or giving something up. For example, "I was so close to achieving my goal, but at the last minute I decided to throw it all away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Throw it all away?

The New York Times - Arts

Why throw it all away?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

My husband said: 'Throw it all away.

The New York Times - Magazine

We were able to throw it all away".

Independent

It was Gil who had said: Throw it all away".

The New York Times - Books

'I could throw it all away tomorrow and not notice.

The Guardian - Books

So don't throw it all away on autobiography.

The Guardian - Books

And now they're telling us to throw it all away".

The New York Times

And then, inexplicably, he started to throw it all away.

The Guardian - Music

Do we want to throw it all away?

The Guardian

And when we were saved, I decided to throw it all away and sit and write".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "throw it all away" to emphasize the magnitude of a potential loss or the foolishness of discarding something valuable, whether tangible or intangible. For example, "Don't let one mistake make you "throw it all away"; learn from it and move forward."

Common error

While "throw it all away" is widely understood, it can sound too informal or colloquial for academic or professional writing. In such cases, consider more formal alternatives like "relinquish all gains" or "forfeit everything."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "throw it all away" functions as an idiomatic expression. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. It's used to express the idea of discarding, wasting, or losing something of value.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Books

15%

Sports

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "throw it all away" is a common idiomatic phrase used to describe the act of wasting or losing something valuable. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and widely used. While it's versatile, it's most appropriate in neutral to informal contexts, such as news, books, and casual conversations. When writing in formal or academic settings, consider more precise alternatives such as "relinquish all gains" or "forfeit everything". It's important to understand the weight of this expression: you are not just losing something, you are losing everything that you built.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abandon everything

Focuses on the act of leaving behind possessions, responsibilities, or relationships completely.

waste all your efforts

Highlights the futility of prior work if it is now being discarded or ignored.

squander everything

Replaces the idiomatic expression with a more direct verb emphasizing wasteful spending or loss.

relinquish all gains

Specifically targets the surrender of profits or advantages achieved through effort.

forfeit everything

Implies a loss due to a rule violation, mistake or circumstance beyond one's control.

give up all hope

Shifts the focus to emotional despair and the abandonment of optimism or expectation.

neglect everything

Highlights the consequences of not taking care of all, resulting in a loss or failure.

risk it all

Shortens the expression while maintaining the sense of placing everything in a precarious situation with uncertain outcomes.

jeopardize it all

Emphasizes the potential damage or threat to what has been accumulated or achieved.

endanger everything

Highlights a dangerous scenario of putting everything at risk, typically driven by action or inaction of something or someone.

FAQs

How can I use "throw it all away" in a sentence?

You can use "throw it all away" to express the idea of wasting or losing something valuable. For example, "He worked so hard to build his business, but he risked "throw it all away" with his gambling addiction."

What does "throw it all away" mean?

"Throw it all away" means to waste or lose something valuable, often due to carelessness or poor decisions. It implies a significant loss or squandering of resources or opportunities.

What can I say instead of "throw it all away"?

You can use alternatives like "squander everything", "abandon everything", or "relinquish all gains" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "throwing it all away"?

Yes, "throwing it all away" is a grammatically correct and commonly used variation. It functions as a gerund or present participle, often used to describe an ongoing action or a tendency, such as in the sentence, "He is throwing it all away with his reckless behavior."