Is there anywhere I can throw this AWAY/OUT?

[Ashraful Haque]

I've always say 'throw away' when it comes to discarding unnecessary/used things. Recently I came across 'throw out.' I wonder what's the difference between 'throw out' and 'throw away.' For example, I have a coke can in my hand that I want to get rid of:

"Where can I throw this out/away?"

 

[emsr2d2]

I associate "throw away" with just about any piece of rubbish, from a crisp packet to a sofa. I would use "throw out" with something that has reached the end of its useful life (for me), such as a computer, a guitar, a mattress etc.

That might just be my distinction though.

In your context, I would use only "throw away".

 

[PeterCW]

I associate "throw away" with just about any piece of rubbish, from a crisp packet to a sofa. I would use "throw out" with something that has reached the end of its useful life (for me), such as a computer, a guitar, a mattress etc.

That might just be my distinction though.

In your context, I would use only "throw away".

I agree with you although I think that our American cousins make more use of "throw out" than we do on this side of the Atlantic.

 

[Rover_KE]

I think they say 'toss out' more than either of the above.

 

[GoesStation]

I think they say 'toss out' more than either of the above.

No. "Throw away" or "throw out" are a lot more common.

 

[emsr2d2]

No. "Throw away" or "throw out" are a lot more common.

How about "chuck out/away"? They're very common in BrE.

 

[GoesStation]

How about "chuck out/away"? They're very common in BrE.

That's distinctly British. In my region we often pitch things we don't need anymore. "Pitch out" is possible, but only the first word is required.

 

[Rover_KE]

No. "Throw away" or "throw out" are a lot more common.

I stand corrected.

 

[Tarheel]

It's not that we don't say toss out. We do. (Well, some people do.)

 

[Skrej]

As an AmE speaker, I'm hard-pressed to say if I use any one of the three ('throw out', 'toss out', 'throw away') more than the other. I'm not aware of any distinction I make regarding their use.

 

[GoesStation]

As an AmE speaker, I'm hard-pressed to say if I use any one of the three ('throw out', 'toss out', 'throw away') more than the other. I'm not aware of any distinction I make regarding their use.

How about "pitch"? I think I use that one far more often than the others, but I think it's a regionalism.

 

[Skrej]

I may use it occasionally, but not nearly as much as the others. If I do, it's infrequently enough that I'm uncertain about it.

Although come to think of it, you do see those 'pitch it in' signs on public trashcans. I always attributed those signs to a remnant of some anti-littering PR blitz from the past. I seem to vaguely recall some rhyming jingle about not littering that ended with or contained 'pitch it in'. The last bit was adopted for signage.

 

[emsr2d2]

BrE also uses "ditch".

 

[Rover_KE]

Although come to think of it, you do see those 'pitch it in' signs on public trashcans.

Interesting.:-?

We've never used that slogan in the UK and I never saw any of those signs during the two years I spent in the USA.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

As an AmE speaker, I'm hard-pressed to say if I use any one of the three ('throw out', 'toss out', 'throw away') more than the other. I'm not aware of any distinction I make regarding their use.

So you use them interchangeably in all context? Can you think of a situation where you'd prefer on over the others?

 

[Tarheel]

So you use them interchangeably in all contexts? Can you think of a situation where you'd prefer one over the others?

I say throw out mostly.

 

[Skrej]

So you use them interchangeably in all context? Can you think of a situation where you'd prefer on over the others?

Yes, to me they're interchangeable in any context I can think of. No, I couldn't tell you why I might pick one over the other for a given situation. I just say whatever comes to mind.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

I say throw out mostly.

Would 'throw away' sound unnatural in any context in your version of English? Or is it just a personal preference?

 

[Tarheel]

1. "Throw away" is good too.
2. It's just a personal preference.