throw out

Meaning

This phrasal verb primarily means to discard or get rid of something that is no longer useful or wanted. It can also mean to reject an idea or proposal, or to force someone to leave a place due to bad behavior. It is very common in everyday spoken English and has a casual, neutral tone.

Examples

• I need to throw out these old magazines to clear some space.

  I need to throw out these old magazines to clear some space.

• Don't throw that box out; we can use it for packing later.

  Don't throw that box out; we can use it for packing later.

• The judge decided to throw out the case due to lack of evidence.

  The judge decided to throw out the case due to lack of evidence.

• They will throw you out of the club if you start a fight.

  They will throw you out of the club if you start a fight.

• We threw out a few ideas during the meeting, but nothing was decided.

  We threw out a few ideas during the meeting, but nothing was decided.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I threw out it yesterday.

  ✓ I threw it out yesterday.

  When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'it' or 'them'), it must be placed between the verb and the particle.

• ✗ He threw out of his old clothes.

  ✓ He threw out his old clothes.

  Do not use the preposition 'of' after 'throw out' when discarding items. 'Throw out' directly takes a direct object.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Those leftovers smell bad; you should ___ them ___.

  💡 Get rid of something unwanted.

  Show answer

  throw out

• The committee decided to ___ the proposal because it was too expensive.

  💡 Reject an idea or plan.

  Show answer

  throw out