toss
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++toss1 /tɒs $ tɒːs/ ●●○ verb 1 [transitive]THROW to throw something, especially something light, with a quick gentle movement of your hand 扔，掷，抛〔尤指轻的东西〕toss something into/onto etc something She crumpled the letter and tossed it into the fire. 她把信揉成一团，扔进了火里。toss something aside/over etc Toss that book over, will you? 把那本书扔过来，好吗？toss something to somebody ‘Catch!’ said Sandra, tossing her bag to him. “接着！”桑德拉边说边把她的包扔给他。toss somebody something Frank tossed her the newspaper. 弗兰克把报纸扔给她。► see thesaurus at throw2 [intransitive, transitive]MOVE/CHANGE POSITION to move about continuously in a violent or uncontrolled way, or to make something do this （使）动来动去；（使）翻转不停toss something around/about The small boat was tossed about like a cork. 小船像软木般被水流抛来抛去。3 toss and turn to keep changing your position in bed because you cannot sleep 〔因睡不着在床上〕翻来覆去 I’ve been tossing and turning all night. 我一晚上辗转反侧。4 [intransitive, transitive] (also toss up) especially British EnglishTHROW to throw a coin in the air, so that a decision will be made according to the side that faces upwards when it comes down 把（硬币）抛向空中〔以决定某事〕 SYN American English flip They tossed a coin to decide who would go first. 他们抛硬币决定谁先走。toss (somebody) for it We couldn’t make up our minds, so we decided to toss for it. 我们拿不定主意，所以决定抛硬币来定。5 [transitive]THROW to throw something up into the air and let it fall to the ground 把…抛向高空 The crowd cheered, banging pots and tossing confetti into the air. 人群欢呼起来，又是敲锅敲碗，又是往空中抛撒五彩纸屑。6. toss a pancake British English to throw a pancake upwards so that it turns over in the air and lands on the side that you want to cook 把煎饼颠起翻面 SYN flip American English7 [transitive]DFC to move pieces of food about in a small amount of liquid so that they become covered with the liquid 〔在液体中〕摇晃，搅拌〔食物〕 Toss the carrots in some butter before serving. 上桌前把胡萝卜放在黄油里搅拌一下。8 toss your head/hair writtenHBH to move your head or hair back suddenly, often with a shaking movement showing anger 甩头/头发〔表示气愤〕 He tossed his head angrily and left the room. 他气愤地把头一甩，离开了房间。9 toss off phrasal verb a) toss something ↔ offMAKE to produce something quickly and without much effort 轻而易举地完成某事 one of those painters who can toss off a couple of pictures before breakfast 一位早餐前就能信手画出两三幅画的那种画家b) toss something ↔ off writtenDFDDRINK to drink something quickly 将某物一饮而尽 He tossed off a few whiskies. 他一口气喝下几杯威士忌酒。c) toss (somebody) off British English informal not politeSY to masturbate 手淫10 toss something/somebody ↔ out phrasal verb American English informal a) to get rid of something that you do not want 抛弃，扔掉 SYN throw out I tossed most of that stuff out when we moved. 我们搬家时，我把那些东西大部分都扔了。b) to make someone leave a place, especially because of bad behaviour 撵走，赶出〔行为不端的人〕 SYN throw out of Kurt was tossed out of the club for trying to start a fight. 库尔特因企图寻衅打架被赶出俱乐部。→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
toss• The fire was started when a passing motorist carelessly tossed a cigarette out of his car.• Many enjoy the convenience of popping an imitation burger in the microwave or tossing a tofu dog on the grill.• Therefore they are never perfectly at ease and may toss and turn in bed.• Finding none, she poured soda and salt into the crease of her folded hand and tossed both into the flour.• The kite was being tossed by the wind.• And the mare, as if finally understanding, begins to strain, tosses her head wildly, pulls at the reins.• He tossed her last week's edition of the "Herald".• More than 150 farmers and hauliers tossed ideas around.• She tossed it aside and renewed her efforts to contact Georgie and perhaps learn more about the murder.• The hot dog tasted funny, so I tossed it.• As I tossed the bag down the ladder well, the warrant stepped back.• Graham tossed the paperback on to the opposite couchette and made his way to the dining car.• Normally serene palms toss their woolly mop heads like distraught grieving women who can not take any more suffering.• Pour the marinade over the mushrooms and toss them lightly.• The dressing is great tossed with a salad of lettuce, broccoli florets, zucchini and yellow pepper slices.toss somebody something• Toss me a pillow.tossed ... coin• Torn between passing the letter to Alice or Amelia, Robert tossed a coin and settled on the latter.• Two girls passed by and tossed coins into his small plastic cup.• I tossed a coin with Bill Wall for this, and won.toss2 noun [countable] 1 THROWthe act of throwing a coin in the air to decide something, especially who will do something first in a game 抛硬币决定2 HBHa sudden backwards movement of your head, so that your hair moves, often showing anger 甩头，猛一仰头3. THROWa gentle throw 〔轻轻的〕抛，扔，投4 not give a toss British English spokenDON'T CARE to not care about something at all 根本不在乎 → argue the toss at argue(5)Examples from the Corpus
toss• George faked a toss to Kaufman, and ran in for a touchdown.• With a toss of her head, she walked out of the room.• I don't give - toss how long he's had to learn the part or how difficult it's been.• Gooch won an important toss, put West Indies in, and before long five wickets were down for 29.• And at Chelmsford Northants are batting after winning the toss against Essex.Origin toss1 (1500-1600) Probably from a Scandinavian languagetoss1 verbtoss2 nounChinese
Corpus especially something throw to a with light, something,
toss
toss1 /tɒs $ tɒːs/ 
verb
toss something into/onto etc something
She crumpled the letter and tossed it into the fire.
toss something aside/over etc
Toss that book over, will you?
toss something to somebody
‘Catch!’ said Sandra, tossing her bag to him.
toss somebody something
Frank tossed her the newspaper.
2. [intransitive and transitive] to move about continuously in a violent or uncontrolled way, or to make something do this
toss something around/about
The small boat was tossed about like a cork.
3. toss and turn to keep changing your position in bed because you cannot sleep:
I’ve been tossing and turning all night.
4. [intransitive and transitive] (also toss up) especially British English to throw a coin in the air, so that a decision will be made according to the side that faces upwards when it comes down
SYN flip American English:
They tossed a coin to decide who would go first.
toss (somebody) for it
We couldn’t make up our minds, so we decided to toss for it.
5. [transitive] to throw something up into the air and let it fall to the ground:
The crowd cheered, banging pots and tossing confetti into the air.
6. toss a pancake British English to throw a pancake upwards so that it turns over in the air and lands on the side that you want to cook
SYN flip American English
7. [transitive] to move pieces of food about in a small amount of liquid so that they become covered with the liquid:
Toss the carrots in some butter before serving.
8. toss your head/hair written to move your head or hair back suddenly, often with a shaking movement showing anger:
He tossed his head angrily and left the room.
toss off phrasal verb
1. toss something ↔ off to produce something quickly and without much effort:
one of those painters who can toss off a couple of pictures before breakfast
2. toss something ↔ off written to drink something quickly:
He tossed off a few whiskies.
3. toss (somebody) off British English informal not polite to masturbate
toss something/somebody ↔ out phrasal verb American English informal
1. to get rid of something that you do not want
SYN throw out:
I tossed most of that stuff out when we moved.
2. to make someone leave a place, especially because of bad behaviour
SYN throw out
toss something/somebody ↔ out of
Kurt was tossed out of the club for trying to start a fight.
▪ throw to make something such as a ball or stone move quickly through the air using your hand: I threw the ball back to him. | Protestors began throwing stones at the police. | I just threw the letter in the bin.
▪toss (also chuck ) informal to throw something, especially in a careless way without using much effort: She tossed her coat onto the bed. | Can you chuck me the remote control?
▪hurl to throw something with a lot of force: Someone hurled a brick through his window.
▪fling to angrily throw something somewhere with a lot of force, or to carelessly throw something somewhere because you have very little time: He flung her keys into the river. | I flung a few things into a suitcase.
▪heave /hiːv/ to throw something heavy using a lot of effort: They heaved the log into the river.
▪lob to throw something high into the air over someone or something: The police lobbed tear gas canisters over the heads of the demonstrators.
toss2 noun [countable]
1. the act of throwing a coin in the air to decide something, especially who will do something first in a game:
The toss of a coin decided who would go first.
win/lose the toss
Malory won the toss and will serve.
2. a sudden backwards movement of your head, so that your hair moves, often showing anger:
‘I’ll see,’ the nurse said, with an officious toss of her head.
3. a gentle throw
4. not give a toss British English spoken to not care about something at all:
I really couldn’t give a toss what Sam thinks.
⇨ argue the toss at argue(5)
| I |
verb Date: 1500-1600
Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language
1. [transitive] to throw something, especially something light, with a quick gentle movement of your handOrigin: Probably from a Scandinavian language
toss something into/onto etc something
toss something aside/over etc
toss something to somebody
toss somebody something
2. [intransitive and transitive] to move about continuously in a violent or uncontrolled way, or to make something do this
toss something around/about
3. toss and turn to keep changing your position in bed because you cannot sleep:
4. [intransitive and transitive] (also toss up) especially British English to throw a coin in the air, so that a decision will be made according to the side that faces upwards when it comes down
SYN flip American English:
toss (somebody) for it
5. [transitive] to throw something up into the air and let it fall to the ground:
6. toss a pancake British English to throw a pancake upwards so that it turns over in the air and lands on the side that you want to cook
SYN flip American English
7. [transitive] to move pieces of food about in a small amount of liquid so that they become covered with the liquid:
8. toss your head/hair written to move your head or hair back suddenly, often with a shaking movement showing anger:
toss off phrasal verb
1. toss something ↔ off to produce something quickly and without much effort:
2. toss something ↔ off written to drink something quickly:
3. toss (somebody) off British English informal not polite to masturbate
toss something/somebody ↔ out phrasal verb American English informal
1. to get rid of something that you do not want
SYN throw out:
2. to make someone leave a place, especially because of bad behaviour
SYN throw out
toss something/somebody ↔ out of
| THESAURUS |
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| II |
noun [countable]1. the act of throwing a coin in the air to decide something, especially who will do something first in a game:
win/lose the toss
2. a sudden backwards movement of your head, so that your hair moves, often showing anger:
3. a gentle throw
4. not give a toss British English spoken to not care about something at all:
⇨ argue the toss at argue(5)
throw to send sth from your hand or hands through the air 指投、掷、抛、扔 ：◆ Some kids were throwing stones at the window. 有些孩子在朝窗户扔石头。 ◆ She threw the ball and he caught it. 她把球抛出来，他接住了。 toss to throw sth lightly or carelessly 指轻轻或漫不经心地扔、抛、掷 ：◆ She tossed her jacket onto the bed. 她把她的短上衣丢到床上。 hurl to throw sth violently in a particular direction 指猛扔、猛投、猛摔 ：◆ Rioters hurled a brick through the car's windscreen. 暴徒把一块砖猛地扔向汽车，砸破了挡风玻璃。 fling to throw sb/sth somewhere with a lot of force, especially because you are angry or in a hurry 尤指生气地或急匆匆地用力扔、掷、抛、丢 ：◆ She flung the letter down onto the table. 她把信摔在桌子上。 chuck ( to throw sth carelesslyespecially
BrE 指随便扔、抛 ：◆ I chucked him the keys. 我把钥匙扔给了他。 lob ( to throw sth so that it goes high through the air指往空中高扔、高抛、高掷 ：◆ They were lobbing stones over the wall. 他们在朝墙那边扔石头。 bowl (in cricket) to throw the ball to the batsman （板球）指把球投给击球员 pitch (in baseball) to throw the ball to the batter （棒球）指把球投给击球员
Patterns
to throw/toss/hurl/fling/chuck/lob/bowl/pitch sth at/to sb/sthto throw/toss/fling/chuck sth aside/away to throw/toss/hurl/fling/chuck/lob/bowl/pitch a ball to throw/toss/hurl/fling/chuck stones/rocks/a brick to throw/toss/hurl/fling sth angrily to throw/toss sth casually/carelessly
especially
