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THROW Phrasal Verbs in English: Meanings and Examples

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A phrasal verb is a verb plus a small word (a particle) that together make a new meaning. The verb throw forms many useful phrasal verbs, and the particle changes the meaning each time: throw away, throw out, throw up, throw off, and more.

This guide is for B1 to C1 learners who want to understand and use the most common throw phrasal verbs in real conversation. By the end you will know what each one means, see an example of each, learn which ones can be separated by an object, and avoid the mistakes learners make most. Three exercises are on this page so you can practice straight away.

On this page

A quick video summary

What a phrasal verb is

A phrasal verb combines a verb with a particle (an adverb or a preposition) to form a single expression. The particle often changes the meaning of the verb completely, so you cannot work out the meaning by translating each word on its own.

The trick is to learn the whole phrase as one unit of meaning. Note that throw is an irregular verb: throw, threw, thrown.

The most useful THROW phrasal verbs, with examples

Phrasal verb Meaning Example
throw away to get rid of something you no longer want Don’t throw away those old photos.
throw in to add something extra to a deal The dealer threw in free floor mats.
throw off to remove clothing quickly; to escape someone following you She threw off her coat and sat down.
throw on to put on clothing quickly I threw on a jacket and ran out.
throw out to get rid of something; to expel someone They threw out the broken chairs.
throw over to end a relationship or reject someone He threw over his old friends for new ones.
throw together to make or arrange something quickly I threw together a quick salad.
throw up (informal) to vomit The rough sea made him throw up.
throw yourself into to do something with energy and enthusiasm She threw herself into the new project.

Phrasal verbs are easy to read and hard to use. The only way they become natural is to use them in conversation. Book a free trial lesson and practice throw phrasal verbs with an experienced native teacher, no credit card needed.

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The many meanings of “throw out”

Some phrasal verbs have several meanings, so the context tells you which one is meant. “Throw out” is a good example.

Meaning Example
to get rid of something you don’t want We threw out the old sofa.
to expel someone from a place The bouncer threw out the troublemakers.
to reject a plan or proposal The committee threw out the proposal.
to say something casually He threw out a suggestion during the meeting.

Separable or not: where the object goes

Most throw phrasal verbs are separable: the object can go after the phrase or in the middle. When the object is a pronoun (it, them), it must go in the middle.

  • Separable: throw away, throw out, throw on, throw off, throw up. “Throw away the box” or “throw it away” (not “throw away it”).
  • Note: throw yourself into needs the reflexive pronoun and the object follows the phrase: “she threw herself into it.”

Common mistakes with THROW phrasal verbs

  1. Translating word by word. “Throw up” is not “throw” plus “up.” Learn the whole phrase as one meaning.
  2. Putting a pronoun after a separable verb. Wrong: “throw away it.” Right: “throw it away.”
  3. Confusing throw out and throw off. Throw out means get rid of or expel; throw off means remove quickly or escape someone following you.
  4. Using the wrong form of throw. Throw is irregular: throw, threw, thrown. “He throwed it away” is wrong; use “threw it away.”

Practice exercises on THROW phrasal verbs

Exercise 1. Select the correct phrasal verb in brackets to complete each sentence.

Exercise 2. Decide which phrasal verb of throw fits best in each sentence.

Exercise 3. Complete each sentence with the right particle: up, down, off, out or away.

Quick self-check

Choose the right throw phrasal verb, then reveal the answers.

1. It was hot, so he ____ his jacket. (removed quickly)
2. Please don’t ____ those documents, we still need them. (discard)
3. The bad food made her ____. (vomit)

Show answers

1. threw off.   2. throw away (or throw out).   3. throw up.

How did that feel? Recognising a phrasal verb in an exercise is one thing. Reaching for the right one while you speak is the goal. In a free trial lesson, an experienced native teacher will have you using throw phrasal verbs in real sentences within minutes.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a phrasal verb?
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a particle (an adverb or preposition) that together form a new meaning, such as throw away or throw up. The particle often changes the meaning of the verb completely, so you learn the whole phrase as one unit rather than translating each word.
What does “throw up” mean?
Throw up most often means to vomit (informal), for example “the rough sea made him throw up.” It can also mean to throw something into the air, or to produce or reveal something, as in “the research threw up some surprising results.”
What is the difference between throw out and throw away?
Both can mean to get rid of something you no longer want. Throw out is a little broader: it can also mean to expel a person (“they threw him out”), to reject a plan (“the committee threw out the idea”), or to say something casually. Throw away is mainly about discarding objects.
Are throw phrasal verbs separable?
Most are. Throw away, throw out, throw on, throw off and throw up are separable, so a pronoun object goes in the middle (“throw it away,” not “throw away it”). Throw yourself into keeps the object after the whole phrase.
Is “throw” a regular verb?
No, throw is irregular. Its past simple is “threw” and its past participle is “thrown”: throw, threw, thrown. So you say “he threw it away,” not “he throwed it away.”

Key takeaways

  • A phrasal verb is a verb plus a particle with a new, combined meaning.
  • Learn the whole phrase, do not translate throw and the particle separately.
  • The most common ones: throw away, throw out, throw up, throw off, throw on.
  • Throw out has more than one meaning, so context decides.
  • Throw is irregular (throw, threw, thrown); with separable verbs, a pronoun goes in the middle (throw it away).

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Written and reviewed by the experienced native English teachers at Live English, online since 2007.