throw down

throw down — phrasal verb

  • throw downbase form
  • throws down3rd person singular
  • throwing down-ing form
  • threw downpast simple
  • thrown downpast participle

1. to make something fall to the ground by dropping or tossing it, or to defeat a l

1.片語動詞及物B2
釋義

to make something fall to the ground by dropping or tossing it, or to defeat a leader or remove them from a position of power

例句

The protester threw down her sign and walked away from the crowd.

throw + noun + down (separable)

The movers threw down the heavy sofa from the second-floor window into the waiting truck.

throw + noun + down + from + location

同義詞
  • drop

    less forceful and often accidental; 'throw down' implies deliberate action

  • overthrow

    covers only the figurative meaning of removing a ruler or government

  • toss

    more casual; suggests a lighter, less purposeful motion

反義詞
  • pick up

    lifting instead of dropping to the ground

  • uphold

    supporting a leader instead of removing them from power

文法句型

throw + noun phrase + down

throw down + noun phrase

用法筆記

When used literally (make something fall to the ground), the object can appear before or after 'down': 'threw her bag down' or 'threw down her bag'. When used figuratively (overthrow), only 'throw down + object' is natural. This sense is also the source of the fixed idiom 'throw down the gauntlet' (issue a challenge).

常見錯誤

❌He threw down.
✅He threw his weapon down.
💡This phrasal verb is almost always transitive; you must say what was thrown down.

2. to get rid of something you no longer want, especially by putting or pushing it

2.片語動詞及物C1
釋義

to get rid of something you no longer want, especially by putting or pushing it aside in a casual or forceful way

例句

The café owner threw down the faded menus and printed a fresh set for summer.

throw down + noun (discard old items for replacement)

The teenager threw her cracked phone down on the bed and unboxed the new one.

throw + noun + down + onto + surface

同義詞
  • discard

    more neutral and formal; standard in both speech and writing

  • toss aside

    similar in register; emphasizes the careless or offhand nature

  • junk

    very informal; treats the object as worthless

反義詞
  • keep

    retain instead of discarding

  • hold onto

    maintain possession of something

文法句型

throw + noun phrase + down

throw down + noun phrase

用法筆記

This sense is less common than using 'throw away' or 'discard'. 'Throw down' carries a tone of casual rejection or forceful abandonment, not careful disposal. It often appears with objects that are worn out, broken, or no longer valued.

常見錯誤

❌The family threw down their old newspapers in the recycling bin.
✅The family threw away their old newspapers in the recycling bin.
💡Use 'throw away' for placing something into a bin; 'throw down' suggests dropping it on the ground or a surface.