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REFERENCE

toss

v. · n.
US //ˈtɔs// UK //tˈɒs// toss
  1. 1 to throw lightly (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to throw something lightly or carelessly, often with an upward motion.

    to throw something with a light, casual, or careless motion, typically using an underhand or upward trajectory.

    Example

    He tossed the car keys to her across the kitchen table.

    Example

    She tossed the crumpled draft into the wastepaper basket without a second thought, frustrated by her lack of progress.
  2. 2 to flip a coin (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to throw a coin into the air to make a decision based on which side lands up.

    to flip a coin into the air to decide a matter by chance or to determine the start of a sporting event.

    Example

    Let's toss a coin to see who has to wash the dishes tonight.

    Example

    The referee gathered the two captains in the centre of the pitch to toss the coin and determine which side would kick off.
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  1. 3 to mix food (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    to mix food, like a salad or pasta, by moving it around lightly.

    to mix ingredients lightly by lifting and dropping them repeatedly, ensuring an even coating of dressing or sauce.

    Example

    Toss the salad with some olive oil and lemon juice before serving.

    Example

    The chef instructed the apprentice to toss the pasta gently in the pan to ensure every strand was coated in the garlic butter.
  2. 4 to move restlessly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to move around a lot in bed because you cannot sleep.

    to move restlessly or turbulently; frequently used in the phrase 'toss and turn' regarding sleep.

    Example

    I spent the whole night tossing and turning because of the heat.

    Example

    The small boat began to toss violently as the storm moved in from the Atlantic, making the passengers feel quite uneasy.
  3. 5 to search a room (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    to search a place quickly and roughly, often leaving it messy.

    to search a room or building thoroughly and often destructively, typically in the context of a police raid or a burglary.

    Example

    The burglars tossed the entire apartment looking for hidden jewellery.

    Example

    The detectives had clearly tossed the suspect's office, leaving filing cabinets open and papers scattered across the floor.
  4. 6 a light throw (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the act of throwing something lightly.

    an instance of throwing something with a light or casual motion.

    Example

    With a quick toss, he sent the ball over the fence to the children.

    Example

    A casual toss of the bouquet followed the ceremony, with several guests scrambling to catch the flowers.
  5. 7 nonsense (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Slang

    something that is rubbish or total nonsense.

    a term for nonsense or something of very poor quality.

    Example

    Don't listen to him; he's talking absolute toss.

    Example

    The critics dismissed the new play as complete toss, citing the weak dialogue and predictable plot as its main failings.
Origin

From Middle English tossen (“to buffet about, agitate, toss; to sift or winnow”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Old Norse (compare dialectal Norwegian tossa, dialectal Swedish tossa (“to strew, spread”)), or perhaps from an alteration of Middle English tosen (“to tease, pull apart, shred; to wound, injure”). Compare also Dutch tassen (“to pile or heap up, stack”). The Welsh tos (“a quick jerk”) and tosio (“to jerk, toss”) are probably borrowed from the English.

Idioms1 entry

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