toss
/tɔs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb:
- To throw something lightly or carelessly: To propel something, especially with a quick, light, or casual motion of the hand or arm.
- To move or cause to move from side to side or up and down in a restless, violent, or agitated way: Often used to describe the motion of waves, a ship, or a person's restless movement.
- To flip a coin: To throw a coin into the air so that it turns over and over, used to decide something based on which side lands face up.
- To mix food by lifting and turning it: To combine ingredients, especially a salad, by gently lifting and dropping them.
Noun:
- An act of throwing something lightly or casually: The action of tossing.
- An abrupt, quick movement, especially of the head: A sudden upward or backward jerk.
- The act of deciding something by flipping a coin: The instance of using a coin toss to make a decision.
Usage Examples
Verb:
- Please toss the keys to me. (Throwing lightly)
- The boat began to toss on the rough waves. (Moving violently)
- Let's toss a coin to decide who goes first. (Flipping a coin)
- Toss the salad with the vinaigrette just before serving. (Mixing food)
Noun:
- With a quick toss, he sent the paper into the bin. (An act of throwing)
- She answered with a dismissive toss of her head. (An abrupt head movement)
- The winner of the toss gets to choose which side to play on. (Coin flip decision)
Advanced Usage
"to toss and turn": To be unable to sleep, moving restlessly in bed.
- I was so anxious that I tossed and turned all night.
"to toss one's hat/cap into the ring": To announce one's candidacy or intention to enter a contest.
- After much speculation, the senator finally tossed his hat into the ring for the presidential election.
"to toss a salad": To mix a salad by gently lifting and turning the ingredients.
- A good chef knows how to properly toss a salad to coat every leaf.
Variants and Related Words
- Tosser (n, informal, chiefly British): A foolish or contemptible person. (Note: This is a slang term and can be offensive.)
- Toss-up (n): A situation where two possibilities are equally likely; an even chance.
- It's a toss-up between the red and the blue dress.
Synonyms
- Verb: Throw, fling, hurl, chuck, flip, pitch, agitate, jolt.
- Noun: Throw, fling, pitch, jerk, lurch.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Toss away/out: To discard or throw something away.
- He tossed away the old newspapers.
Toss back: To drink something quickly; to return something with a throwing motion.
- He tossed back his drink and left the bar.
Toss off: To produce or accomplish something quickly and easily; (informal) to drink something quickly.
- She can toss off a poem in just a few minutes.
- He tossed off his coffee and ran out the door.
Toss up: To flip a coin; to prepare a meal quickly.
- We couldn't agree, so we decided to toss up for it.
Related Idioms
Argue the toss (British): To dispute a decision or disagree unnecessarily about something that has already been decided.
- The decision's been made, so there's no point arguing the toss.
Not give a toss (British, informal): To not care at all.
- I don't give a toss what they think.
Noun
- an abrupt movement
- a toss of his head
- (sports) the act of throwing the ball to another member of your team
- the pass was fumbled
- the act of flipping a coin
Verb
- agitate
- toss the salad
- throw or cast away
- Put away your worries
- move or stir about violently
- The feverish patient thrashed around in his bed
- throw carelessly
- chuck the ball
- lightly throw to see which side comes up
- I don't know what to do--I may as well flip a coin!
- throw or toss with a light motion
- flip me the beachball
- toss me newspaper