to throw around
27
4.5
- phrasal verb
- /θroʊ əˈraʊnd/
- Informal
:
decir a la ligera
- PTSD is one of those phrases that is thrown around a lot when referring to veterans.
That word stress is thrown around all the time.
- That word stress is thrown around all the time.
- The idea of equality that we throw around so much is patently false.
- And anxiety is is a word that's thrown around a lot.
- It's a term lots of people throw around, not just in the world of narcissism.
- And I feel like the numbers are thrown around frequently in a way that are not useful.
- This term, Philosophy as a way of life has been thrown around a lot in recent decades.
- You know, the words like narcissism and red flags getting thrown around.
- Now, I do not throw this suggestion around lightly.
- We, we're, you know, we throw jokes around.
- People are still pretty stressed about the word being thrown around.
- You're so brutally honest, so brutally authentic, that word authenticity gets thrown around so much.
- I'd like to touch base on racism because racism does exist, However, the word is thrown around far too often.
- It's like I feel like girls throw around the I'm fat a little too loosely.
- Like, I mean, you know, you, you hear the term and you throw it around a lot.
- Mark is when we start to throw around the word ultra massive black hole.
- The word is being thrown around AGIAI, etcetera, etcetera.
Examples
-
Right now, we're in a very convenient state and everybody's throwing around judgment and blame like it's free.
-
People often throw around phrases like 'winner' or 'hero' without considering their true meaning.
-
Like, I mean, you know, you, you hear the term and you throw it around a lot.
-
The word is now thrown around all the time.
-
Once you have money to throw around people start returning your calls.
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This term, Philosophy as a way of life has been thrown around a lot in recent decades.
-
It's a term lots of people throw around, not just in the world of narcissism.
-
Siefert, you keep throwing that term around, but I'm not sure you know what it actually means.
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I think you're throwing around the word "god" a bit loosely there.
-
They're throwing around words like "treason. "
Synonyms
348
2.8
To direct a look, smile, or words at someone
11
6.8
Talk about an idea or name without careful thought
3
7.0
To mention an idea or rumor again and again without serious thought
Antonyms
How Careful
∞
1.6
788
2.6
∞
1.0
- Informal
27
4.5
11
6.8
- Informal
42
3.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense of carelessly mentioning or scattering items is metaphorically related to 'throw' (to toss) combined with 'around' (in various directions), so a learner could partly infer the idea of indiscriminate distribution. However, the specific pragmatic use with words/accusations and the exact meaning 'to mention or use carelessly/frequently' is a figurative extension that is not fully predictable without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The phrasal verb throw around comes from the image of someone literally throwing papers or objects around a room without care. That's why it means 'to mention or use words, names, or accusations carelessly or too often.'