toss (redirected from give a toss)

argue the toss (British & Australian, informal)

to disagree with a decision or statement. Are you prepared to argue the toss when you might have to go to court to prove it?

See also: argue

not care/give a toss (British, informal)

to not be worried about or interested in someone or something. She can say what she likes, I don't give a toss what she thinks. (often + question word) He's only interested in himself, he doesn't care a toss about his family. (often + about)

See also: care, give

throw/toss your hat in the ring (American & Australian)

to do something that makes it clear you want to compete with other people, especially to compete for a political position. She's seriously considering throwing her hat in the ring and declaring herself a candidate for the election.

See also: hat, ring, throw

a toss-up (informal)

a situation where two or more possibilities are equally likely. It's a toss-up between Angela and Moira for the editor's job. (often + between) It was a toss-up whether prices would go up or down. (often + whether)

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toss and turn

to be unable to sleep because of worrying. Bernard was tossing and turning all night.

See also: turn

toss around something

1. to consider or think about something. Some of us have been tossing around suggestions for improving the show. The morning newspapers print the news, and then commentators toss it around on the evening TV news shows.

2. to use words without thinking carefully about them. The financial press tossed around words like “crash” and “disaster.” Students toss bad words around freely.

See also: around

toss off something

to do or say something quickly, easily, and sometimes without thought. He simply tossed off a comment about what women want and it got him into a lot of trouble. He had a great memory for jokes, and could just toss them off one after the other.

toss out someone/something

to get rid of someone or something. She tossed out my old chair. Mrs. Curtis tossed him out of class for laughing.

toss out something

1. to refuse to accept or consider something. The judge tossed out the case two weeks ago. We received thousands of proposals for the memorial, but tossed most of them out because they were dull or inappropriate.

2. to suggest something as a possibility. We tossed out half a dozen titles and then discussed what we thought about each one. Now that you've had a chance to look at the memo, I'll toss an idea out to start the discussion.