# chuck

/ˈtʃək/ (US) · /tʃˈʌk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chuck
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to throw carelessly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to throw something in a casual or careless way.

For teachers: to toss or throw something with little effort or precision. Transitive, typically taking a physical object.

- He chucked the car keys to me across the living room.
- Without looking up from his book, he chucked the crumpled wrapper toward the bin, missing it by several inches.

### 2. to discard or throw away

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to get rid of something you no longer want.

For teachers: to discard or dispose of an item, often implying it is now considered rubbish.

- I decided to chuck my old clothes and buy some new ones.
- The tenant had chucked most of the broken furniture into the alleyway before the new owners arrived for the inspection.

### 3. to end a relationship

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · British English

to end a romantic relationship with someone.

For teachers: to terminate a romantic relationship abruptly; to dump someone.

- She was devastated when her boyfriend chucked her after three years.
- He was worried that his partner might chuck him if he didn't start contributing more to the household expenses.

### 4. to quit or stop

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to stop doing a job or an activity because you are bored or frustrated.

For teachers: to abandon a task, position, or habit; often used in the phrase 'chuck it in'.

- He was so stressed that he decided to chuck his job and travel.
- After years of corporate politics, she finally decided to chuck it all in and open a small bakery in the countryside.

### 5. cut of beef

noun · CEFR B2

a cut of meat from the shoulder of a cow, often used for slow cooking.

For teachers: a cut of beef extending from the neck to the shoulder, characterized by significant connective tissue.

- I bought some chuck steak to make a slow-cooked beef stew.
- The chef recommended using chuck for the pot roast because the fat content ensures the meat remains moist during the long braising process.

### 6. mechanical holder

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a part of a drill or machine that holds a tool or piece of wood tightly.

For teachers: a specialized type of clamp used to hold a rotating tool or workpiece in place on a machine tool.

- Make sure the drill bit is tightened securely in the chuck before you start.
- The machinist adjusted the three-jaw chuck to ensure the steel rod was perfectly centered before beginning the turning process.

### 7. term of endearment

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · British English · Dialect

a friendly name used to address someone you like.

For teachers: a colloquial term of endearment used to address a friend or loved one.

- Are you alright there, chuck?
- The shopkeeper in Manchester often addressed her regular customers as 'chuck' while she packed their groceries.

### 8. musical muting

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to stop a guitar string from ringing by touching it with your hand.

For teachers: to produce a percussive sound by muting the strings immediately after striking them.

- The guitarist used a chuck to give the rhythm a more percussive feel.
- By mastering the chuck technique, the mandolin player was able to provide a driving backbeat for the rest of the bluegrass ensemble.

## Examples

- Just chuck your coat on the sofa.
- I decided to chuck my old sneakers because they were full of holes.
- After realizing the data was completely corrupted, the researcher had to chuck months of hard work and start the entire experiment from scratch.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.