toss away
B1 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To throw something away without caring about it.
Literal meaning: To throw something away in a casual, light manner.
Meanings
1 B1 informal
To throw something away casually, treating it as unimportant or worthless.
"He tossed away the receipt without checking if the charge was correct."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
(Figurative) To waste or squander an opportunity or advantage carelessly.
"She felt she had tossed away her chance at a promotion by not speaking up in the meeting."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Interchangeable with 'throw away' in most contexts, but 'toss away' often implies greater carelessness or indifference. Can also be used figuratively for wasting an opportunity.
Commonly used with
rubbish receipt chance opportunity wrapper leaflet
Forms
Base
toss away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tosses away
he/she/it
Past simple
tossed away
yesterday
Past participle
tossed away
have + pp
-ing form
tossing away
continuous
Understand "toss away" better
Try:
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Synonyms
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "toss away" on Looplines