Browse all

throw together

B1 informal separable both
In simple words

To make something fast without trying too hard, or when people end up in the same place by accident.

Literal meaning: To physically hurl several things into one place.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

To make or prepare something quickly and with little effort.

"I threw together a quick pasta dish with whatever was left in the fridge."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To cause people to meet or be in the same situation by chance or circumstance.

"Fate threw the two rivals together on the same team, and they eventually became close friends."

"'We were thrown together by circumstance.'"

— Commonly attributed usage; cited in multiple literary reviews of novels dealing with wartime or travel narratives
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

When referring to food or a plan, it has a slightly self-deprecating tone — the speaker implies the result is imperfect. When people are 'thrown together', it usually means fate or circumstance brought them into contact.

Commonly used with

meal report plan outfit strangers presentation

Forms

Base
throw together
I/you/we/they
3rd person
throws together
he/she/it
Past simple
threw together
yesterday
Past participle
thrown together
have + pp
-ing form
throwing together
continuous

Understand "throw together" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Synonyms

cobble together whip up improvise rustle up assemble hastily

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "throw together" on Looplines