waste-paper-basket

A student crumples a piece of paper and throws it into the waste-paper-basket.

Definition

Noun:
- Container for discarded paper: "waste-paper-basket" refers to a small basket or bin, typically placed in an office or home, used for disposing of unwanted paper, such as used documents, notes, or packaging.

Usage Examples

Noun:
- She crumpled the draft and tossed it into the waste-paper-basket. (She disposed of the unwanted paper in the bin.)
- The office cleaner emptied all the waste-paper-baskets at the end of the day. (The cleaner removed the discarded paper from the containers.)

Advanced Usage

"to be fit for the waste-paper-basket": an idiomatic expression meaning something is worthless or of such poor quality that it should be thrown away.
- His latest article is so poorly written that it is fit for the waste-paper-basket. (The article is not worth keeping.)
"waste-paper-basket" as a metaphor: used to describe an idea or object that is considered useless or irrelevant.
- The proposal was immediately consigned to the waste-paper-basket of history. (The proposal was rejected and forgotten.)

Variants and Related Words

Waste-paper (n): paper that is discarded as no longer useful.
- Recycle your waste-paper to save trees. (Throwaway paper that can be reused.)
Basket (n): a container made of woven material or plastic, used for holding items.
- She placed the fruit basket on the table. (A container for fruit.)

Synonyms

Related Idioms

"to throw something in the waste-paper-basket": to discard or reject something, often an idea or document.
- After reading the letter, he threw it in the waste-paper-basket. (He disposed of it.)
"to be a waste-paper-basket case": a humorous or informal way to describe something that is hopeless or beyond repair.
- This old computer is a waste-paper-basket case; it's time to buy a new one. (The computer is too broken to fix.)