Phrasal verb
throw sth away
Definition
phrasal verb. to put something in the bin because you do not want it or need it anymore.
phrasal verb. to dispose of an item as refuse; to discard something that is no longer useful or desired.
Examples
“Don't throw those old magazines away.”
“I need to throw away these old shoes because they have holes in the bottom.”
“The company was criticized for throwing away tons of perfectly edible food while local families struggled with rising costs.”
Examples
simple
“Don't throw those old magazines away.”
contextual
“I need to throw away these old shoes because they have holes in the bottom.”
complex
“The company was criticized for throwing away tons of perfectly edible food while local families struggled with rising costs.”
Usage
the object can go between 'throw' and 'away' or after the whole phrase.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'throw out' (synonymous) and 'give away' (donating); highlight that it can also be used figuratively for wasting an opportunity.
Pitfall
I threw away it.
I threw it away.
when the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between the verb and the particle.
Phrasal verb
Particles
away
Separability
optional
Pattern
throw + object + away
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/throw-sth-away