throw out

Verb

throw out (third-person singular simple present throws out, present participle throwing out, simple past threw out, past participle thrown out)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see throw, out.

   Synonyms:

   eject, expel, lay off

2. (idiomatic) To discard; to dispense with something; to throw away.
   • Just throw that pen out if it doesn't write anymore.
   • They decided to throw out the idea because it would have been too expensive.

   Synonyms:

   toss out, toss, junk, 86, bin, can, cast aside, cast off, cast away, chuck

3. (idiomatic) To dismiss a legal case.
4. (idiomatic) To dismiss or expel someone from any longer performing duty or attending somewhere.
   • The board threw the man out, because he wouldn't cooperate and agree with their plans to remodernize the facility.
   • The ushers threw the woman out of the auditorium, because she kept shouting out insults to the guest of honor when he made his speech.

   Synonyms:

   kick out

5. (idiomatic) To offer an idea for consideration.
   • Let me throw this out there – how about if we make the igloo out of butter? Would that work?
   • I throw out a challenge to the gay community to dare to walk into this dark corner and offer the light of brotherly love to help these people find themselves.1981 August 1, Ray Thompson, “Down and Out and Gay”, in Gay Community News, page 13
6. To produce in a haphazard fashion.
   • This program keeps throwing out errors.
7. (transitive) To emit.
8. (transitive) To utter carelessly (a remark, suggestion, proposal, etc.).
   • He threw out a couple of half-baked ideas.
9. (transitive) To cause to project.
   • Using the countless tons of rock from the cliff-face, supplemented by much more from inland, they threw out a huge breakwater, 2,000 ft. long and 80 ft. high, roughly at right angles to the quay, so forming an almost completely sheltered corner. Fifty years later, this massive mole is still...1956 September, F. F. Nicholls, “Neyland, A Forgotten Harbour”, in Railway Magazine, page 632
10. (transitive) To put into a state of confusion.
11. (transitive) To outdistance; to leave behind.
12. (transitive) To cause or experience debilitating muscle or joint pain in (a body part).
    • ...while he was putting on his coat, after having completed his work, in preparing to leave for home, he threw out his shoulder.1917, Massachusetts. Industrial Accident Board, Reports of Cases under the Workmen's Compensation Act, volume IV, Wright & Potter Printing Co., page 310
    • But why wasn't Mom there? Sick? No. Threw out her back carrying boxes of blood at a blood drive.2004, Al Franken, chapter 31, in Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell Them : a Fair and Balanced Look at the Right, Dutton, page 274