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🏈 To toss 🐎 To unseat 🎉 To host 🎲 To roll dice 🎲 An attempt 👀 To direct 😵 To confuse 🔀 To activate 💻 To signal error 🏺 To shape clay 🛋️ A blanket ⚙️ Movement range
to throw

to throw

83 6.1
To move a switch or lever to make a machine work
  • verb
  • /θroʊ/
translation icon : accionar
  • Throw the switch, kitties!

Examples

  • You may just have to throw a switch.

    Runaway (1984)

  • Some officer had the presence of mind to throw the switch for the poison gas siren.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • I say we throw the switch and see what happens.

    Total Recall (1990)

  • Now they had thrown the switch.

    Double Indemnity (1944)

  • A switch had somehow been thrown in all their heads at once.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Paul, uh, don't forget to throw the switch on the electric furnace.

    The Vampire (1957)

  • 155 Aaron in the alcove throws the switch to activate the piston.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Please throw the switch to start the machine.

  • To activate the lights in the room, you need to throw the switch located near the door.

  • Don't forget to throw the switch before leaving the garage.

Synonyms

to flip
vsto throw
354 1.8

To turn or toss something quickly with a light hand movement

is about activating devices or controls rather than general quick movement
to switch
vsto throw
123 1.0

To make a machine or light start working

is broader, covering operation by moving levers or other controls
to switch on
vsto throw
32 1.6

To make a device like a light start working by pressing a button or moving a switch

is similar but emphasizes any activation, not only the start moment
to flip the switch
vsto throw
11 3.5

Cause a sudden change, for example by moving a small control to turn something on

is similar but is not focused on sudden or decisive shifts
to pull the lever
vsto throw
11 3.6

Move a handle to make a machine start or stop

is broader, covering many activation methods rather than only using a control arm

Antonyms

to disable
87 3.5

Make a device or feature stop working

Idioms

to throw in the towel
  • Informal
27 4.8

To stop trying because you know you cannot succeed

to throw up one's hands
  • Informal
15 6.5

Raise both hands to show you feel frustrated or give up

to throw a fit
  • Informal
12 6.1

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

to throw away the key
  • Informal
12 8.8

Put someone in prison for life with no hope of release

stone's throw
10 2.3

A short distance away that is a few minutes' walk

to throw the book at
  • Informal
9 7.5

To punish someone as harshly as possible under the law

to throw to the wolves
  • Informal
8 8.1

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

to throw caution to the wind
  • Informal
7 7.3

Do something without worrying about the risks

to throw one's hat in the ring
  • Informal
5 7.4

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

to throw one's weight around
  • Informal
5 7.5

To use your power to make others do what you want

to throw down the gauntlet
4 7.7

To openly challenge someone in front of others

to throw the baby out with the bathwater
  • Informal
4 8.1

To get rid of something valuable while removing something bad

to throw good money after bad
3 7.5

To keep spending money on something that is already failing

to throw a wrench in
  • US
2 8.0

Cause a problem that stops a plan or activity

to lock him up and throw away the key
  • Informal
2 9.5

Put someone in prison and never let them out

to throw stones
  • Informal
2 6.7

Say bad things about others while ignoring your own faults

to throw a curve
  • Informal
1 8.4

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

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 one's toys out of the pram
  • UK
1 9.9

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

to throw to the dogs
  • Informal
1 9.1

To give up something important in a careless or disrespectful way

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 throw a dummy spit
  • UK
9.9

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

to throw an eye
  • UK
7.8

To look quickly at something

to throw a snit
  • Informal
8.7

To suddenly become very angry or upset and act childishly

to throw a sprat to catch a mackerel
  • Archaic
9.9

Give something small to get something much bigger later

to throw a wobbly
  • UK
9.9

To become suddenly very angry and upset in a dramatic way

to throw brickbats
  • Literature
8.9

Attack someone with strong words in public

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 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 stones in a glass house
  • Informal
8.4

To blame others when you have the same faults

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
  • Informal
7.3

Try many different ideas to see which one works

to throw spaghetti at the wall
  • Informal
9.3

To try many different ideas to find one that works

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
477 1.8

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

to throw a party
318 1.8

Plan and have a party for people to enjoy

to throw up
  • Informal
296 2.3

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

to throw out
236 3.0

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

to throw out
202 1.8

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

to throw out
163 4.2

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

to throw in
  • Informal
97 2.7

Add something extra for free

to throw off
31 4.8

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

to throw in
  • Informal
29 4.9

Stop trying because you cannot win

to throw around
  • Informal
27 4.5

To say words or names often without thinking

to throw together
  • Informal
22 3.5

Make something quickly without much care or planning

to throw a tantrum
  • Informal
18 4.4

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

to throw down
  • Informal
18 7.0

To start a fight or bold competition to show strength

to throw in
  • Informal
14 3.8

Add a short comment during a conversation

to throw back
12 5.8

Move something quickly backward, like your head or a cup

to throw up
  • Specialized
12 3.7

To make a message or window appear on the screen

to throw in with
  • Informal
6 5.8

To join and support a group or side

to throw overboard
  • NSFW
5 4.8

To throw someone or something from a boat into water

to throw money away
4 3.5

Spend money on things you do not need

to throw off balance
4 5.4

To make someone feel confused or unsure after a sudden change

to throw one's weight behind
3 6.6

To support a person or idea by using your influence

to throw cold water on
  • Informal
2 7.4

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

to throw overboard
1 6.0

To reject or get rid of something no longer needed

to throw off the trail
1 7.7

To give false clues so people do not find the truth

to throw out ideas
1 3.4

Suggest ideas for others to consider

to throw down a challenge
  • Informal
1 5.4

Openly invite someone to compete with you

to throw away your dreams
1 7.4

To give up your hopes for the future

to throw dirt
  • Informal
1 7.2

Say bad things about someone to harm their reputation

to throw off
1 3.8

To quickly remove something you have or that bothers you

to throw shapes
  • Slang
1 9.0

To dance with showy, energetic movements

to throw someone a kiss
1 3.5

Kiss your hand and blow the kiss toward someone

to throw off keel
8.1

Cause someone to feel confused and upset

to throw wobblies
  • Slang
9.9

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

Compounds

free throw
50 2.8

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

throw pillow
  • US
5 2.1

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

throw rug
  • US
4 3.2

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

throw-in
1 3.8

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

hammer throw
1 4.7

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

arm throw
1 2.8

A throw that uses the arm, often in sport

charity throw
  • US
2.3

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

free throw lane
3.6

Marked rectangle near the basket where players stand during free throws

penalty free throw
2.7

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

throw of the dice
6.5

A decision that depends mostly on chance

throw stick
8.2

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

throw-weight
  • Specialized
9.9

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

How Forceful

slam
85 2.1
to throw
83 6.1
press
11 1.3
to flick
60 2.3

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 imagine moving a lever with a quick turn. That's why to throw a switch or lever is to move it into position and start or stop something.