1 B2 idiomatic informal
To produce or complete something quickly and without great effort.
"She tossed off a reply to the email in less than two minutes."
separable
toss off
B2 informal separable transitive
To produce or complete something quickly and with little effort, or to drink something in one swift motion.
In plain English
To do something quickly without much thought or effort.
What does "toss off" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To drink an entire glass of liquid in one swift motion.
"He tossed off the last of his beer and reached for his coat."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To say something casually or dismissively, without apparent thought.
"He tossed off the criticism with a shrug and moved on."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To throw something off or away in one motion.
Actually means
To do something quickly without much thought or effort.
Usage tip
The sense of producing something quickly (a letter, speech, piece of work) is common and neutral in American English. Be aware that in British English, 'toss off' also has a vulgar slang meaning related to masturbation, so caution is advised in British contexts. In the drinking sense, it means to drain a glass quickly.
Words that pair with "toss off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
letter reply speech essay joke shot
How to conjugate "toss off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
toss off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tosses off
he/she/it
Past simple
tossed off
yesterday
Past participle
tossed off
have + pp
-ing form
tossing off
continuous
Hear "toss off" in the wild
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Other ways to say "toss off"
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