Throw (verb) — to propel an object through the air using force from the hand and arm; to put someone or something suddenly into a particular state; to confuse or disconcert someone. Throw (noun) — an act of throwing, or the distance something is thrown.
What Does Throw Mean?
Throw comes from the Old English verb thrawan, meaning to twist or turn, derived from Proto-Germanic roots. During the Middle English period the meaning shifted from twisting to propelling through the air — the sense most familiar today. Related Germanic words include the German drehen (to turn), which preserves the older meaning.
In modern British English, throw has three main senses. The core physical sense is to send an object through the air: throw a ball, throw a punch. The second sense is figurative — to put someone or something abruptly into a state: the news threw him into confusion. The third sense, also figurative, is to disconcert or unsettle someone: the question threw her. This last sense appears in the given example sentence and is particularly useful at B2–C1 level.
As a noun, a throw refers to a single act or instance of throwing (a brilliant throw from the boundary) and, informally, to each individual item at a stated price (£5 a throw). Knowing both noun and verb uses is essential for natural English.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & note |
|---|---|
| Please throw the ball to me. | A2 — basic physical sense, imperative |
| He threw his coat over the chair and sat down. | B1 — casual, physical action in narrative |
| The sudden change of plan threw us all, but we adapted quickly. | B1 — figurative: to confuse or disconcert |
| The factory closure threw hundreds of workers into uncertainty. | B2 — throw + object + into + noun phrase |
| She was thrown by the unexpected question but quickly composed herself. | C1 — passive, figurative; formal written register |
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning & example |
|---|---|
| throw a party | organise and host a party — They threw a party for her retirement. |
| throw a punch | aim and deliver a punch — He threw a punch but missed. |
| throw a tantrum | have a sudden outburst of anger — The child threw a tantrum in the supermarket. |
| throw doubt on | make something seem uncertain — New evidence threw doubt on his alibi. |
| throw light on | help explain or clarify — The documents threw light on the mystery. |
| throw caution to the wind | act boldly without worrying about risk — She threw caution to the wind and quit her job. |
| throw someone off guard | surprise someone so they are unprepared — His calmness threw me off guard. |
| throw the book at | punish as severely as possible — The judge threw the book at the repeat offender. |
| throw a shadow | cast a shadow; create a dark atmosphere — The tragedy threw a shadow over the whole year. |
| throw away | discard; waste an opportunity — Don’t throw away a chance like this. |
Usage Notes
Irregular forms: throw → threw (past simple) → thrown (past participle). The form throwed does not exist in standard British English.
Passive voice: The figurative sense is very common in the passive: She was thrown by the question. I was completely thrown. In this use, no preposition is needed.
Throw + into: When throw means to put someone suddenly into a state, it takes into plus a noun: throw someone into confusion / doubt / turmoil / chaos / relief.
Noun usage: As a noun, throw is countable: a good throw, two throws of the dice. The informal a throw meaning "each" (as in price) is mostly British: tickets at £25 a throw.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
He throwed the ball over the fence.
He threw the ball over the fence. (irregular past simple: throw → threw)
The news has throwed us into confusion.
The news has thrown us into confusion. (past participle: throw → thrown)
She was threw by the question.
She was thrown by the question. (passive requires past participle, not past simple)
They threw doubt about the results.
They threw doubt on the results. (fixed collocation: throw doubt on, not about)