throw out
/ˌθroʊ ˈaʊt/
Reviewed on
Type
Phrasal verb
Meaning
To discard or get rid of something that is no longer needed or wanted.
We need to throw out these old magazines to clear space on the shelf.
Did you throw the leftovers out, or are they still in the fridge?
To officially reject, dismiss, or refuse to accept an idea, proposal, or legal case.
The judge decided to throw out the case due to a lack of evidence.
Management immediately threw out our suggestion for flexible working hours.
To force someone to leave a place, organization, or group because of bad behavior.
Security threatened to throw out anyone caught causing trouble inside the venue.
He was thrown out of the library after refusing to quiet down.
To suggest an idea, question, or number casually for others to consider.
Let me throw out a few ideas before we finalize the project plan.
She just threw out a random estimate during the meeting.
How it's used
When this means “discard something”
Both orders mean the same thing.
- throw out the trash
- throw the trash out
it and them go in the middle: “throw it out.” Not “throw out it.”
Please throw the trash out before you go to bed.
When this means “expel someone”
Both orders mean the same thing.
- throw out the unruly patron
- throw the unruly patron out
him goes in the middle: “throw him out.” Not “throw out him.”
The bouncer had to throw him out of the club.
Collocations
- throw out old clothes
- throw out a case
- throw out a lawsuit
- throw out an idea
- throw out a number
Idioms
throw the baby out with the bathwater
to discard something valuable along with what is undesirable
Reforming the program is fine, but do not throw the baby out with the bathwater.