toss (redirected from tosses off)

It's a toss-up.

Inf. It's hard to tell the winner, and it could be won by either player or either team. The game's almost over, and it's a toss-up.

throw in the towel and throw in the sponge; toss in the sponge

Fig. (From boxing, where this is done by a boxer's trainer to stop the fight.) to signal that one is going to quit; to quit. When John could stand no more of Mary's bad temper, he threw in the towel and left. Don't give up now! It's too soon to throw in the sponge.

See also: throw, towel

toss (someone) for something

Fig. to decide with someone, by tossing a coin, who will get or do something. Let's see who gets to go first. I'll toss you for it. I'll toss for it. Let's toss for it.

toss someone or something around

to throw someone or something around. The waves tossed him around and almost dashed him on the rocks. The waves tossed around all the little boats.

See also: around

toss someone or something aside

to throw someone or something aside or out of the way. The kidnapper tossed the child aside and reached for his gun. The soldier tossed aside the helpless civilian and ran into the house. Fred tossed the can aside and Alice picked it up.

See also: aside

toss someone or something away

to throw someone or something away; to discard someone or something. You can't just toss me away! I'm your husband! She tossed away her husband of twenty years. She tossed the cigarette away.

See also: away

toss someone or something back 

1. to throw or force someone or something backward. The blast tossed me back into the room. The blast tossed back the emergency personnel.

2. to throw someone or something back to where someone or something came from. My father always threatened to toss me back where I came from, the way a fish is returned to the water. I will toss back all the undersize fish.

See also: back

toss someone or something off (of) something and toss someone or something off

to hurl someone or something from something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) The gigantic ape was going to toss the woman off of the Empire State Building. The ape did not toss off the woman.

toss someone or something out of something and toss someone or something out

to discard someone or something; to throw someone or something out of something or some place. The bartender tossed Walter out of the bar. The litterbug tossed out the empty can.

See also: out

toss something around

Fig. to discuss something. I have a few things to discuss. Can we meet later and toss them around? We tossed around a few ideas after dinner.

See also: around

toss something at someone or something

to throw something at someone or something. Jimmy tossed an apple at Sarah to see what she would do. John tossed a stone at the wall.

toss something back and forth 

1. Lit. [for two or more people] to toss something to each other alternately. Carol and Kelly tossed the ball back and forth for a few minutes. We will toss the ball back and forth until we get tired.

2. Fig. to trade remarks, quips, insults, etc. They tossed insulting remarks back and forth. Walter and David spent the evening tossing quips back and forth.

See also: and, back, forth

toss something down

Fig. to drink down a drink quickly. He tossed a beer down and left the bar. Sam tossed down a couple of shots.

toss something into something and toss something

to cast or throw something into something. Frank tossed the wood into the fire. He tossed in the wood.

toss something off 

1. Lit. to throw something off (of oneself). Bob coughed so hard he tossed his blanket off. Tom tossed off his jacket and sat down to watch television.

2. Fig. to ignore or resist the bad effects of something. John insulted Bob, but Bob just tossed it off. If I couldn't toss off insults, I'd be miserable.

3. Fig. to produce something easily or quickly. I tossed that article off in only an hour. Joe just tossed off a few words and left the room.

4. Fig. to drink a drink very quickly. He tossed a few beers off and left. He tossed off a beer.

toss something together

to assemble something hastily. (See also throw something together.) This report is useless. You just tossed it together! This meal was just tossed together, but it was delicious.

See also: together

toss something up

to throw something upward to a higher place or up into the air. He tossed the coin up, calling "heads" and hoping for the best. He tossed up the coin.

See also: up

toss a salad

to mix various salad ingredients together. The chef tossed the salad. I tossed the salad just before my guests arrived.

See also: salad

toss one's cookies

Sl. to vomit. Don't run too fast after you eat or you'll toss your cookies. Oh, I feel terrible. I think I'm going to toss my cookies.

See also: cooky

toss one's hat into the ring and throw one's hat in the ring

Fig. to announce that one is running for an elective office. Jane wanted to run for treasurer, so she tossed her hat into the ring. I won't throw my hat into the ring until the last minute.

See also: hat, ring

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not care/give a toss  (British informal)

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

See throw hat in the ring, argue the toss

See also: care

a toss-up  (informal)

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

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

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 If the cap fits, come cap in hand, hang up your hat, I'll eat my hat, keep under hat, pass the hat around, be talking through hat

See also: hat, ring, throw

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throw your hat in the ring

to announce that you intend to compete for something, esp. a political position At today's news conference, the congressman officially threw his hat in the ring and began his campaign for the Senate.

See also: hat, ring, throw

throw in the towel

to admit defeat or failure The union was forced to throw in the towel and settle their bitter dispute with the company.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of throwing a towel into the ring in boxing (signaling that a fighter can no longer continue by throwing a towel into the area where the fight takes place)

See also: throw, towel

toss and turn

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

See also: and, turn

toss around something also toss something around

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 also toss something off

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 somebody/something also toss somebody/something out

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

See also: out

toss out something also toss something out

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.

See also: out