# throw sth away

CEFR A2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/throw-sth-away
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to put something in the bin because you do not want it or need it anymore.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I threw away it." but "I threw it away." — when the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.