1 B1 informal
To throw something into the bin or dispose of it carelessly
"Don't chuck away those leftovers — I'll eat them for lunch tomorrow."
separable
chuck away
B1 informal separable transitive
To throw something away or discard it, often carelessly or wastefully
In plain English
To get rid of something by throwing it away, sometimes when you probably shouldn't
What does "chuck away" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To waste or squander something valuable, such as an opportunity or money (figurative)
"He chucked away his entire savings on bad investments."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To chuck (throw) something away (to a distance or into the bin)
Actually means
To get rid of something by throwing it away, sometimes when you probably shouldn't
Usage tip
Mainly British English. Slightly more emphatic than 'throw away' and often implies that discarding the item is somewhat wasteful or regrettable. Can be used figuratively to mean wasting an opportunity or resource.
Words that pair with "chuck away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
opportunity chance money food rubbish old clothes
How to conjugate "chuck away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
chuck away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
chucks away
he/she/it
Past simple
chucked away
yesterday
Past participle
chucked away
have + pp
-ing form
chucking away
continuous
Hear "chuck away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "chuck away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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