chuck

Everyday

1. (informal) To chuck something is to throw it, often casually. tree →
2. (informal) To chuck something out or away is to throw it in the bin. tree →
3. (informal) To chuck something in or chuck it is to give it up or quit. tree →
4. (informal, UK) To chuck a boyfriend or girlfriend is to end the relationship with them. tree →
5. (Australia, slang) To chuck a sickie is to stay off work pretending to be ill; to chuck a U-ey is to do a U-turn. tree →
6. A chuck is the part of a drill that holds the bit tight. tree →
7. (northern England, informal) "Chuck" is a friendly word for a person, like "love" or "dear". tree →

In the lessons

It is common in everyday and playground talk in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland; in a story it shows casual speech. In maths problems "chuck" just means throw. Phrases: chuck out, chuck away, chuck it in, chuck a sickie, chuck a wobbly (Australia: throw a tantrum), chuck up (vomit), chuck it down (rain heavily).

Examples

• Chuck me the ball! tree →
• Don't chuck your rubbish on the ground. tree →
• Mum chucked out the old shoes. tree →
• It's chucking it down, so take a coat. tree →
• He chucked in his paper round after a week. tree →
• My brother chucked a wobbly when the TV went off. tree →
• She chucked 5 stones into the pond and then 3 more, so she chucked 8 in all. tree →
• Tighten the chuck before you start drilling. tree →
• "Ta, chuck," said the lady at the bus stop. tree →
• “But I shouldn't have minded all that if it hadn't been for that little fellow on top of the house, who kept a-hollering, 'Chuck him up to me-e! tree →

Note

Regular verb: chucked. Informal register: in a formal exam write "throw" or "discard". "Chuck up" can mean to be sick, so be careful. Not related to the name Chuck (short for Charles). In problems, chucked/thrown away means subtract from what is kept.