throw
/θrəʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /θrəʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈthrō/ (ame, mw) · /θroʊ/ (ame, ipa)
throw — verb
- throwpresent simple I / you / we / they
- throwshe / she / it
- threwpast simple
- thrownpast participle
- throwing-ing form
1. to make an object fly by pushing it from your hand with a quick arm movement
to make an object fly by pushing it from your hand with a quick arm movement
Ezra threw the ball to his younger brother across the yard.
transitive: throw + object + to [person]
The children were told not to throw stones at passing cars.
transitive: throw + object + at [target]
Soraya can throw farther than anyone else on her softball team.
A crumpled paper ball was thrown across the classroom during the exam.
Kian threw his jacket onto the back seat of the car.
文法句型
throw + object
throw + object + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
When used intransitively, the action of throwing is understood from context, e.g. a sports situation. Transitive use requires an object.
常見錯誤
2. to move your eyes toward someone or something quickly and often briefly, usually
to move your eyes toward someone or something quickly and often briefly, usually to express a feeling like surprise, anger, or interest
Reema threw her mother a worried look before stepping onto the stage.
throw + someone + a look (double-object pattern)
Astrid threw a suspicious glance at the empty cash register.
throw + a glance + at [target]
During the meeting, Christopher threw an annoyed look toward the clock.
The teacher threw a sharp glance at the students who were whispering.
- shoot a glance
even quicker and more forceful
- dart a look
emphasises speed and suddenness
文法句型
throw + someone + a look/glance
throw + a look/glance + at someone
用法筆記
The object is usually a noun related to sight, such as 'look', 'glance', or 'stare'. This sense does not work with ordinary nouns like 'book' or 'phone'.
常見錯誤
3. to move someone or something to a new place or position with speed and little ca
to move someone or something to a new place or position with speed and little care
Bao threw his dirty clothes into the laundry basket without looking.
throw + object + into [container]
The driver threw the car into reverse and sped away from the scene.
Gabriel threw himself onto the sofa after a long day at work.
Allison threw a few books into her bag and rushed out the door.
文法句型
throw + object + prepositional phrase
throw + reflexive pronoun + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Often implies carelessness or urgency. When used with a reflexive pronoun (throw oneself), it describes a quick, deliberate body movement. When used with an object, it suggests lack of attention to where or how the thing lands.
常見錯誤
4. to make someone feel surprised, confused, or unable to react normally because of
to make someone feel surprised, confused, or unable to react normally because of something sudden or unexpected
Sora was completely thrown by the sudden change in the exam format.
passive: be thrown by [unexpected event]
The surprise announcement threw the entire office into confusion.
active: throw + someone + into [state]
Rodrigo was thrown off balance when his manager asked him to lead the project alone.
Questions from the audience threw the speaker during the second half of her talk.
- reassure
to make someone feel calm or confident again
文法句型
be thrown by something
something throws someone
用法筆記
Very common in the passive voice. The passive form 'I was thrown by...' is more natural than the active 'That threw me' in most everyday speech. The phrase 'throw someone off balance' is a fixed expression meaning to make someone feel uncertain.
常見錯誤
5. to make sure you do not win a contest or match on purpose, often for money or un
to make sure you do not win a contest or match on purpose, often for money or under pressure
The boxer was accused of throwing the fight for a large payment.
throw + a fight (boxing context)
Sofie refused to throw the chess match even though she was offered money.
throw + a match (competitive context)
The goalkeeper admitted he had thrown the game to help a betting group.
An investigation found that the tennis player had thrown several matches.
- fix
broader — can mean any kind of dishonest arrangement, not just the outcome
- take a dive
informal, mainly for boxing or sports where falling is involved
- win fair and square
to win honestly without cheating
文法句型
throw + a game/match/fight
用法筆記
Carries a strong negative moral judgement — the player is cheating by not trying their best. Often discussed in news about sports scandals.
常見錯誤
6. to open a door, window, curtain, or similar object wide and usually with a quick
to open a door, window, curtain, or similar object wide and usually with a quick, forceful movement
Ezra threw open the curtains to let the morning sunlight pour in.
throw open + object (curtains, doors, windows)
Rodrigo threw the window open to hear the music from the street below.
throw + object + open (split pattern)
Soraya threw the heavy wooden doors open and walked into the hall.
The protestors threw open the gates of the building as a sign of defiance.
- fling open
even more forceful and dramatic
- push open
less intense, no implication of suddenness
- slam shut
to close something with force
文法句型
throw + object + open
throw open + object
用法筆記
Always used with 'open' immediately after the object. The verb-pair 'throw open' is a fixed collocation — you cannot say 'throw a door widely' or 'throw the window' alone.
常見錯誤
7. to make a place or event available so that anyone can go in or join, often after
to make a place or event available so that anyone can go in or join, often after it was previously restricted.
The garden will be thrown open to the public this summer for the first time.
passive: be thrown open to the public
Apinya threw the design competition open to students from every department.
The museum director decided to throw open the new exhibition hall for one night only.
Defne threw open the doors of her art studio during the local festival.
- open up
less dramatic; simply means making accessible
- make accessible
more formal; used in official contexts
文法句型
throw something open (to someone)
be thrown open to [public/guests]
用法筆記
Usually used with 'open' as a fixed phrase: 'throw open' or 'be thrown open'. When the place is the subject, the passive is more common ('The doors were thrown open').
8. to plan, prepare for, and hold a social event such as a party, dinner, or celebr
to plan, prepare for, and hold a social event such as a party, dinner, or celebration.
Gabriel threw a huge party for his thirtieth birthday at the beach house.
collocation: throw a party for [occasion]
The school is throwing a farewell dinner for the retiring head teacher.
Every year the neighbourhood association throws a summer barbecue in the park.
The team threw a surprise lunch for the coach after the championship win.
文法句型
throw + a party
throw + a dinner / a reception / a celebration
用法筆記
Informal equivalent of 'give a party' or 'host a party'. The object is always a type of social event — never a person ('throw my mother' is wrong).
常見錯誤
9. to suddenly behave in a very angry way, for example by shouting, crying, or losi
to suddenly behave in a very angry way, for example by shouting, crying, or losing control of your emotions.
The toddler threw a tantrum when his mother said it was time to leave.
collocation: throw a tantrum (especially children)
Hassan threw a fit when he saw that someone had scratched his new car.
My grandmother threw a wobbly when they changed the TV schedule without warning.
Christopher threw a fit at the airport when his flight was cancelled.
- lose one's temper
less dramatic; does not imply shouting or crying
- lose it
very informal; broader meaning
- stay calm
to keep control of your emotions
文法句型
throw + a fit / a tantrum / a wobbly
用法筆記
The object is always a fixed noun phrase expressing anger ('a fit', 'a tantrum', 'a wobbly'). 'Throw a fit' can be used for adults as well as children; 'throw a tantrum' is more common for young children. 'Throw a wobbly' is British informal.
常見錯誤
10. to use your hands to give shape to soft clay as it turns on a spinning round tab
to use your hands to give shape to soft clay as it turns on a spinning round table, making pots, bowls, or other containers.
Aoi spent the afternoon learning to throw a clay bowl on the potter's wheel.
collocation: throw [object] on a potter's wheel
The potter threw a set of six matching cups in just two hours.
Eliska took a weekend class to learn how to throw pots and glaze them.
Darius watched the potter throw a vase from a lump of wet clay.
文法句型
throw + a pot / a vase / a bowl
throw + clay / pottery
用法筆記
This is craft-specific vocabulary used in pottery. You cannot 'throw' pottery made by other methods (hand-building, moulding) — only on a wheel. The word 'throw' here refers to the shaping action, not to hurling.
常見錯誤
11. to put something or someone into a place, position, or condition quickly and wit
to put something or someone into a place, position, or condition quickly and without care, often with force.
Vinícius threw his wet coat onto the back of a chair and sat down.
throw [object] onto [surface] — careless placement
The sudden power cut threw the whole building into darkness.
be thrown into [state] — forced change of condition
The judge threw the criminal into prison for his crimes.
Emily threw her school bag on the floor and went straight to the kitchen.
文法句型
throw + object + into/in/on + place
throw + object + into + state
be thrown into + state (passive)
用法筆記
Can be literal (throwing clothes onto a chair) or figurative (throwing someone into confusion, throwing someone into prison). The figurative sense implies speed and force rather than careful deliberation. 'Throw in/into' is more deliberate than 'drop' and less violent than 'hurl'.
常見錯誤
12. to shake dice and release them so they land on a table or board, giving a random
to shake dice and release them so they land on a table or board, giving a random result for a game.
Quinn threw the dice and moved her piece six squares forward.
Rohan threw a seven and won the backgammon game.
throw + a number = obtain that total when rolling
The rules say each player must throw the dice twice per turn.
Gabriel threw a double six and everyone at the table cheered.
文法句型
throw + the dice / a die
throw + a number (a six / a seven)
用法筆記
In board games and gambling, 'roll the dice' is more common in American English; 'throw the dice' is used in both British and American English. The singular 'die' is used when referring to one cube: 'throw a single die'.
常見錯誤
13. to push, pull, or turn a switch, lever, or similar control, causing a connected
to push, pull, or turn a switch, lever, or similar control, causing a connected device or machine to start, stop, or change what it does
Zayd threw the switch and the whole workshop lit up.
collocation: throw a switch
The forklift driver threw a lever to lift the heavy wooden pallet.
Mira threw the car into reverse and backed slowly out of the narrow garage.
Before touching the wires, Hari threw the main power switch on the fuse box.
Sirin threw the gear lever forward and the tractor began to move across the field.
文法句型
throw + switch/lever/gear
用法筆記
The object is typically a switch, lever, or gear stick rather than a button or dial. Common when describing starting or stopping machinery, changing gears in a vehicle, or cutting power to equipment.
常見錯誤
throw — noun
- throwsingular
- throwsplural
1. a single movement of your arm or hand in which you send something through the ai
a single movement of your arm or hand in which you send something through the air
Valentina's first throw of the ball went straight over the catcher's head.
possessive + throw + of + object
With a powerful throw, Nila sent the discus past all other marks in the field.
adjective + throw (powerful)
The umpire called a foul throw because the pitcher's foot had crossed the line.
Christopher practiced his throw every evening until his shoulder felt sore and tired.
文法句型
possessive + throw
make + a/the + throw
adjective + throw
用法筆記
Common in baseball, cricket, and athletics contexts. The object being thrown is often specified after 'of' (a throw of the ball) or implied by the sport.
常見錯誤
2. used after a number or price to show the cost for each individual item or single
used after a number or price to show the cost for each individual item or single instance
Tickets for the front-row seats were fifty dollars a throw at the box office.
price + a throw (cost per item)
The street vendor sold handmade woollen scarves at just two pounds a throw.
Massage sessions at that spa cost ninety dollars a throw for non-members.
Lan paid three hundred pounds a throw for the designer chairs, buying four in total.
文法句型
amount + a throw
用法筆記
Appears exclusively in the pattern '[amount] + a throw'. Cannot be pluralised ('two throws' would not work in this sense without the fixed expression). The amount can be a specific number or a vague quantity (e.g. 'a dollar a throw').
常見錯誤
3. a decorative piece of fabric that you place loosely over a sofa, chair, or bed t
a decorative piece of fabric that you place loosely over a sofa, chair, or bed to keep it clean or improve the room's appearance
Maeve bought a soft cotton throw to drape over her tired old brown sofa.
throw + over [furniture] (fabric cover)
The guest bedroom had a floral throw neatly folded at the foot of the bed.
Adina spilled red wine on the throw and put it straight into the washing machine.
Sari picked a knitted throw with a geometric pattern to match the living-room curtains.
文法句型
throw + over/on + [furniture]
material/colour + throw
用法筆記
A 'throw' in this sense is usually smaller and lighter than a blanket. It is used decoratively on sofas and armchairs, though larger throws may also cover a bed.
4. a single act of rolling dice in a game, or the number shown after the dice stop
a single act of rolling dice in a game, or the number shown after the dice stop moving
Ayana rolled a seven on her first throw of the dice in the board game.
throw of the dice
With one lucky throw, Inês doubled her score and took the lead that round.
adjective + throw (lucky)
The game rules say each player gets three throws and keeps the highest number.
The Watanabe children held their breath as the dice tumbled, waiting for the final throw.
文法句型
throw of the dice
make a throw
ordinal + throw
用法筆記
When the result (the number) is the focus, the context usually makes this clear: 'a throw of six' means the number six appeared. In games like Monopoly or craps, this sense is very frequent.