throwaway
/ˈθrəʊəweɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [θrˈoəwˌe] /ˈθrəʊəweɪ/ (ame, ipa) · [θrˈoəwˌe] /ˈthrō-ə-ˌwā How to pronounce throwaway (audio)/ (ame, mw)
throwaway — adjective
- throwawaypositive
- more throwawaycomparative
- most throwawaysuperlative
1. intended for brief use and then put in the trash instead of being kept, washed,
intended for brief use and then put in the trash instead of being kept, washed, or repaired.
The clinic switched to throwaway gloves after the flood damaged the laundry room.
throwaway + gloves
Hari packed throwaway plates for the picnic so nobody had to wash dishes.
throwaway + plates
At the food stall, steam rose from throwaway bowls stacked beside the soup pot.
The hotel replaced cotton slippers with throwaway ones for the spa showers.
- disposable
the broad everyday synonym for items meant to be used briefly and discarded
- single-use
more technical, especially on packaging or medical supplies
- one-use
rare and more mechanical in tone than throwaway
文法句型
throwaway + cup/glove/plate
throwaway + packaging/item
用法筆記
Usually placed before a noun for low-cost items meant for single use. Common with cups, gloves, razors, plates, and packaging.
常見錯誤
2. said or written quickly in a light way, with little preparation, so it is not me
said or written quickly in a light way, with little preparation, so it is not meant to sound important.
Quinn made a throwaway joke about the delay, and nobody laughed.
throwaway + joke
The mayor's throwaway comment about rent angered families in the back row.
throwaway + comment
During rehearsal, Darius forgot the throwaway line that explains the missing key.
What sounded like a throwaway remark later became the headline of the interview.
- deliberate
planned or carefully chosen rather than said lightly
- serious
intended to carry weight or importance
文法句型
throwaway + remark/comment/joke
throwaway + line
用法筆記
Most often modifies remark, comment, joke, or line. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes words treated lightly, not objects meant to be discarded.
常見錯誤
throwaway — noun
1. a short remark in a play, film, or conversation that is spoken lightly, without
a short remark in a play, film, or conversation that is spoken lightly, without emphasis, so it seems less important than it really is.
The actor's final throwaway about the ring drew the biggest gasp of the night.
a final throwaway about + topic
In the podcast, one throwaway about school lunches sparked a week of debate.
one throwaway about + topic
Critics loved the throwaway that quietly revealed who had stolen the map.
Near the credits, Adina's throwaway about Taipei made the audience laugh.
- aside
often a brief comment that sits slightly outside the main action
- offhand remark
common in everyday speech and less tied to performance
- throwaway line
full phrase that states the idea more explicitly
- punch line
meant to land with strong emphasis or laughter
- set-piece speech
designed to stand out rather than slip past quietly
文法句型
a throwaway about + topic
deliver/use + a throwaway
用法筆記
Often used in reviews of plays, films, interviews, and comedy. The point is not only the words themselves but the light, underemphasized delivery.
常見錯誤
2. a printed notice or advertisement that is handed out free to large numbers of pe
a printed notice or advertisement that is handed out free to large numbers of people in public places.
Outside the station, Hui collected a pizza throwaway and tucked the leaflet into a bag.
a pizza throwaway
Rain soaked the election throwaways scattered across the market entrance.
election throwaways
A cinema worker stacked film throwaways beside the ticket counter before noon.
Most commuters glanced at the charity throwaway and kept walking.
文法句型
hand out + throwaways
an election/charity throwaway
用法筆記
Usually countable and often names the advertised topic before it, as in election throwaway or pizza throwaway. It often appears in newspaper or media-style writing.
常見錯誤
3. an older word for a young person left without family care or driven away from ho
an older word for a young person left without family care or driven away from home, often surviving on the streets.
In the old novel, the priest shelters a throwaway sleeping under the bridge.
shelter a throwaway
A 1930s reporter called the boys throwaways after a fire destroyed their homes.
called the boys throwaways
The charity refused to label any child a throwaway in its annual report.
The play shows adults ignoring a throwaway begging outside the station.
- street child
focuses on living on the street and is more current in social reporting
- runaway child
used when the child left home rather than being abandoned
- abandoned child
clear neutral phrase for a child left without care
文法句型
call someone + a throwaway
a young throwaway
用法筆記
Now dated and often offensive because it reduces a child to a label. Modern writing usually prefers a fuller phrase such as homeless child or runaway child, depending on the situation.