throw away
2 meanings
put something in the rubbish because you don't want it
What does "throw away" mean in this sense?
Examples
- Don't throw away that receipt — you might need it for a refund.
- She threw all her old textbooks away when she moved house.
- He threw away his chance of winning by making one careless mistake.
How to use it
The most common structure with short noun objects — the object goes between the verb and particle.
She threw the empty bottles away after the party.
When the object is a pronoun (it, them, that), it must go between the verb and particle — never after 'away'.
These boxes are just taking up space — throw them away.
With longer or more complex noun phrases, the object typically follows the particle unseparated.
He threw away all the old newspapers he had been keeping in the garage.
The passive form is natural when the focus is on the discarded item rather than the person who discarded it.
The leftover food was thrown away at the end of the evening.
Negative and modal constructions are very common, especially when warning someone not to discard something.
Don't throw that bag away — I'm still using it.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'throw' and 'away'. Placing the pronoun after 'away' is ungrammatical in English.
'Throw away' means putting something in the bin; 'give away' means passing something to another person for free. Using 'throw away' when you mean to give something to someone else changes the meaning completely.
Both can mean to discard something, and in most situations they are interchangeable. However, 'throw out' has additional meanings — it can mean to eject a person or reject an idea — so 'throw away' is the safer choice when you specifically mean putting something in the rubbish.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and used in both spoken and written English. It also has a common figurative meaning — to waste an opportunity or advantage — especially in sports and business contexts (e.g. 'They threw away a two-goal lead').
waste a chance or opportunity
Sense 2: What does "throw sth away" mean?
Examples
- She threw away her chance of a promotion by arriving late to the interview.
- Don't throw this opportunity away — it may never come again.
- He had all the talent in the world, but he threw it away by not taking his training seriously.
How to use it
The most common pattern — use with abstract nouns relating to opportunity or advantage, never with physical objects.
She threw away her chance of winning the scholarship by missing the deadline.
With short noun phrases, separating the verb and particle is natural and often preferred.
They had a comfortable lead, but they threw it all away in the final quarter.
Pronouns like 'it' or 'them' must always go between 'throw' and 'away', never after the particle.
He had a real shot at a professional career, but he threw it away.
Commonly used in infinitive form after expressions that signal urgency or caution.
We can't afford to throw away this opportunity — it's taken years to get here.
The passive form is possible, especially in journalistic or analytical writing, though active constructions are more common.
A promising lead was thrown away by a series of poor decisions in the second half.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
In this sense, 'throw away' only works with abstract things like chances, opportunities, or advantages. Using it with a concrete object signals the completely different meaning of discarding something in the bin.
When using a pronoun like 'it', it must go between 'throw' and 'away'. Placing it after the particle is not correct in standard English.
'Give away' suggests that another party benefits from your loss — for example, handing a lead to your opponent. 'Throw away' focuses purely on squandering something through your own failure, with no implication that someone else gains.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both spoken and written English. It often expresses regret or criticism and is slightly stronger and more emotive than simply saying 'waste'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'throw away' be used in the passive?
Yes, the passive is quite natural with this phrasal verb. You would say 'The receipts were thrown away by mistake' when the focus is on what was discarded rather than on who discarded it. This form is common in both spoken and written English.
What kinds of things can you 'throw away'?
You can throw away physical objects such as old clothes, food, packaging, receipts, batteries, and broken items. 'Throw away' can also collocate with money when it is treated as something wasted or spent carelessly, for example 'I'm not going to throw away £50 on something that doesn't work'.
Does 'throw away' always mean putting something in the bin?
In its literal sense, yes — it means discarding something into the rubbish. However, 'throw away' also has a figurative meaning related to wasting opportunities or advantages, which is a separate sense. The object usually makes the meaning clear: physical items signal the literal sense, while words like 'chance' or 'lead' signal the figurative one.
Is 'throwaway' (one word) related to 'throw away'?
They come from the same root, but 'throwaway' as a single word is an adjective used in phrases like 'throwaway culture' or 'a throwaway comment'. It functions differently from the phrasal verb and is not used in the same way grammatically.
Can 'throw away' in this sense be used in the present continuous, like 'you are throwing away your future'?
It's best avoided. This sense describes a process of squandering rather than an action happening at this exact moment, so the continuous form can sound unnatural. Simple tenses and the infinitive (e.g. 'you're about to throw away your future') work much better.
Is 'throw away' stronger than 'waste'?
Yes, slightly. Both mean to squander something valuable, but 'throw away' feels more emotive and critical — it implies the person was careless or foolish, and the loss was entirely avoidable. 'Waste' is more neutral and straightforward.
What kinds of things can you 'throw away' in this sense?
Always abstract, valuable things — chances, opportunities, advantages, leads, careers, scholarships, talent, or potential. A good test is whether you could substitute 'waste' or 'squander' and still make sense. If the object is a physical item, this is a different sense of the phrasal verb.
Does 'throw away' always express regret or criticism?
Almost always, yes. It implies the loss was unnecessary and self-inflicted, so it naturally carries a tone of disappointment or blame. You wouldn't use it to describe losing something through bad luck — it suggests the person had control and failed to use it wisely.
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