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to throw

to throw

188 7.8
To make someone feel confused or unsure
  • verb
  • /θroʊ/
: desconcertar
  • Too many kids showed up to class late, and it threw my teams off.
  • throw into doubt
  • throw into question

But then came a conversation that threw him for a loop.

Examples

  • One of the things that he does is throws things into doubt.

  • All your daily life is thrown off balance.

  • "A great number of men have a hard time with that; it throws them off guard."

    Academic text (1995)

  • But then came a conversation that threw him for a loop.

    Apollonia Ponti

  • But in December, unexpected news threw all their plans into disarray.

  • "Her calm rebuttal seemed to throw him into a conniption of alarm.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Don't give up on yourself, even when some sharp elbows are thrown your way.

    Academic text (2017)

  • Because if you start playing favorites, you're risking throwing society into chaos.

  • The unexpected news about her promotion really threw him, leaving him speechless.

  • The sudden change in plans threw me off balance, making it hard to focus.

Synonyms

to confuse
vsto throw
152 1.9

Make someone unable to think clearly or make something hard to understand

includes emotional unsettlement as well as cognitive confusion
to throw off
vsto throw
93 4.8

To make someone's plans or schedule not work as expected

focuses instead on emotional or mental unsettlement rather than planning disruption
to shake up
vsto throw
81 4.2

To upset someone strongly and change how they feel

is milder, meaning to confuse or unsettle without extreme effect
to confound
vsto throw
20 7.0

Make someone unable to think clearly

adds emotional unsettlement beyond mere perplexity
to throw off balance
vsto throw
10 5.4

To make someone feel confused or unsure after a sudden change

is not limited to sudden events and covers general mental unsettlement
to throw a curve
vsto throw
  • Informal
6 8.4

To surprise or confuse someone by doing something they did not expect

is broader, covering general emotional or mental unsettlement not only surprise
to befuddle
vsto throw
4 7.8

To make someone very confused so they cannot think clearly

is more about emotional disturbance as well as confusion
to fluster
vsto throw
3 5.5

To make someone nervous so they cannot think clearly

is calmer, focusing on confusion or unsettlement without nervous agitation
to bewilder
vsto throw
3 5.3

Make someone very confused and unable to think clearly

also carries an emotional upset or unsettling effect
to discombobulate
vsto throw
  • Informal
2 9.9

To confuse someone so they cannot think clearly

adds emotional unsettlement to general confusion
to stupefy
vsto throw
2 7.9

To make someone unable to think or react after a very strong shock

is milder, meaning confusion or unsettlement without extreme shock
to flummox
vsto throw
2 8.6

To confuse someone so they do not know what to do or think

tends to emphasise emotional unsettlement rather than sheer puzzlement
to bemuse
vsto throw
1 7.5

To make someone feel confused or unable to understand

adds emotional unsettlement beyond simple puzzlement
to fox
vsto throw
1 8.9

To confuse someone so they cannot think clearly

is more about upsetting emotions as well as causing confusion
to fuddle
vsto throw
1 9.4

To confuse someone and make them unable to think clearly

is more focused on unsettling feelings as well as confusion
to baff
vsto throw
  • UK
1 9.9

To hit something lightly or confuse someone

focuses more on internal emotional unsettlement than physical action
to unfix
vsto throw
9.1

Make someone feel upset and unable to think clearly

is identical in meaning and use
to throw off keel
vsto throw
8.1

Cause someone to feel confused and upset

emphasizes emotional unsettlement rather than physical unbalance
to untune
vsto throw
  • Archaic
8.9

To make someone lose their calm and feel upset

covers both mental confusion and emotional unsettlement rather than only composure loss

Antonyms

to calm
∞ 1.0

Make a person or animal less upset

to reassure
123 3.4

To make someone feel less worried and more confident

Idioms

to throw in the towel
  • Informal
28 4.8

To stop trying because you know you cannot succeed

to throw away the key
  • Informal
18 8.8

Put someone in prison for life with no hope of release

to throw a fit
  • Informal
18 6.1

To suddenly become very angry or upset in a loud, obvious way

to throw stones
  • Informal
18 6.7

Say bad things about others while ignoring your own faults

stone's throw
11 2.3

A short distance away that is a few minutes' walk

to throw the book at
  • Informal
11 7.5

To punish someone as harshly as possible under the law

to throw caution to the wind
  • Informal
10 7.3

Do something without worrying about the risks

to throw to the wolves
  • Informal
9 8.1

Leave someone in a dangerous or difficult situation without help to protect yourself

to throw a curve
  • Informal
6 8.4

To surprise or confuse someone by doing something they did not expect

to throw down the gauntlet
5 7.7

To openly challenge someone in front of others

to throw a wrench in
  • US
4 8.0

Cause a problem that stops a plan or activity

to throw good money after bad
3 7.5

To keep spending money on something that is already failing

to throw to the dogs
  • Informal
2 9.1

To give up something important in a careless or disrespectful way

to throw the baby out with the bathwater
  • Informal
2 8.1

To get rid of something valuable while removing something bad

to throw a monkey wrench into the works
  • Informal
1 8.6

Cause problems on purpose that stop a plan or process from working smoothly

to throw things at the wall
  • Informal
1 7.3

Try many different ideas to see which one works

to throw brickbats
  • Literature
1 8.9

Attack someone with strong words in public

to throw up one's hands
  • Informal
1 6.5

Raise both hands to show you feel frustrated or give up

to throw an eye
  • UK
1 7.8

To look quickly at something

to throw a wobbly
  • UK
1 9.9

To become suddenly very angry and upset in a dramatic way

to throw stones in a glass house
  • Informal
1 8.4

To blame others when you have the same faults

to throw a snit
  • Informal
1 8.7

To suddenly become very angry or upset and act childishly

to throw spaghetti at the wall
  • Informal
1 9.3

To try many different ideas to find one that works

to throw one's weight around
  • Informal
1 7.5

To use your power to make others do what you want

dip me in honey and throw me to the lesbians
  • Offensive
9.9

A humorous way to say you find a woman extremely attractive

to lock him up and throw away the key
  • Informal
9.5

Put someone in prison and never let them out

to throw a dummy spit
  • UK
9.9

Have a childish angry outburst when you do not get your way

to throw a sprat to catch a mackerel
  • Archaic
9.9

Give something small to get something much bigger later

to throw one's cap over the windmill
  • Archaic
9.9

To make a big decision you cannot change that may be risky

to throw one's hat in the ring
  • Informal
7.4

To say you will run for a position, for example in an election

to throw one's hat over the fence
  • Informal
9.4

To decide to do something difficult and not stop

to throw one's hat over the wall
  • UK
9.9

To decide to start something difficult and not change your mind

to throw one's toys out of the pram
  • UK
9.9

To behave in a childish sulky way after not getting what you want

to throw the bull around
  • Informal
9.9

Talk in a relaxed, joking way and make stories bigger to be funny

to throw things at the wall and see what sticks
  • Informal
8.2

Try many different ideas to find one that works

Phrasal Verbs

to throw away
563 1.8

To get rid of something you do not want, for example by putting it in the bin

to throw out
376 3.0

To force someone to leave a place, job, or group

to throw out
361 1.8

To put something in the trash because you do not want it

to throw up
  • Informal
313 2.3

To push food and drink out of your stomach through your mouth

to throw in
  • Informal
263 2.7

Add something extra for free

to throw a party
161 1.8

Plan and have a party for people to enjoy

to throw off
132 3.8

To quickly remove something you have or that bothers you

to throw off
93 4.8

To make someone's plans or schedule not work as expected

to throw in
  • Informal
63 3.8

Add a short comment during a conversation

to throw out
60 4.2

To stop considering a case, request, or proposal in court

to throw around
  • Informal
39 4.5

To say words or names often without thinking

to throw in
  • Informal
33 4.9

Stop trying because you cannot win

to throw together
  • Informal
32 3.5

Make something quickly without much care or planning

to throw overboard
  • NSFW
20 4.8

To throw someone or something from a boat into water

to throw a tantrum
  • Informal
15 4.4

To show sudden strong anger or upset, often like a child

to throw back
13 5.8

Move something quickly backward, like your head or a cup

to throw money away
10 3.5

Spend money on things you do not need

to throw off balance
10 5.4

To make someone feel confused or unsure after a sudden change

to throw in with
  • Informal
5 5.8

To join and support a group or side

to throw down
  • Informal
5 7.0

To start a fight or bold competition to show strength

to throw out ideas
4 3.4

Suggest ideas for others to consider

to throw cold water on
  • Informal
4 7.4

Make people less excited about an idea or plan by saying bad things about it

to throw off the trail
3 7.7

To give false clues so people do not find the truth

to throw overboard
2 6.0

To reject or get rid of something no longer needed

to throw dirt
  • Informal
2 7.2

Say bad things about someone to harm their reputation

to throw up
  • Specialized
1 3.7

To make a message or window appear on the screen

to throw down a challenge
  • Informal
1 5.4

Openly invite someone to compete with you

to throw someone a kiss
1 3.5

Kiss your hand and blow the kiss toward someone

to throw away your dreams
1 7.4

To give up your hopes for the future

to throw shapes
  • Slang
1 9.0

To dance with showy, energetic movements

to throw wobblies
  • Slang
1 9.9

To have a sudden angry outburst like a child's tantrum

to throw off keel
8.1

Cause someone to feel confused and upset

to throw one's weight behind
6.6

To support a person or idea by using your influence

Compounds

free throw
51 2.8

A shot taken from the free-throw line without being blocked after a foul

throw pillow
  • US
8 2.1

A small decorative cushion put on sofas or chairs for comfort and color

throw rug
  • US
6 3.2

A small light mat placed on part of a floor to decorate or protect it

hammer throw
2 4.7

A track and field event where an athlete throws a heavy metal ball attached to a wire for distance

throw of the dice
1 6.5

A decision that depends mostly on chance

throw-in
1 3.8

A way to put the ball back into play from the sideline after it goes out

arm throw
1 2.8

A throw that uses the arm, often in sport

throw stick
1 8.2

A curved stick that comes back to the thrower when thrown correctly

throw-weight
  • Specialized
1 9.9

The weight of warheads or other cargo a missile can carry, not counting the rocket

free throw lane
1 3.6

Marked rectangle near the basket where players stand during free throws

penalty free throw
1 2.7

A shot taken from the foul line after a foul by the other team

charity throw
  • US
2.3

A shot from the foul line taken after a foul that scores one point

How Unsettled

to upset
273 1.0
to throw
188 7.8
to confuse
152 1.9
to puzzle
30 4.9

Surface Forms

throw infinitive
throwing present participle
throws third person singular
threw past
thrown past participle

Etymology

Throw comes from an old word thraw that meant 'twist' or 'turn', so picture your thoughts being 'twisted' out of balance. That's why something that throws you makes you feel confused or unsettled.