throw-away
[f. vbl. phr. to throw away: see throw v.1 37.]
A. n.
1. a. A printed sheet or work not intended for preservation after it has been read; also attrib. Now usu. with reference to ephemeral material distributed free of charge, as pamphlets, advertising leaflets, certain newspapers, etc.
| 1903 Westm. Gaz. 7 Oct. 12/2 Every now and then a little blue square of printed paper fluttered in the breeze. No one seemed to connect these little ‘throw-aways’ with the venerable figure on the front seat. 1905 Daily Chron. 20 Feb. 4/6 This present rag of a throwaway that you can get for a halfpenny. 1905 Westm. Gaz. 31 July 10/2 Lord Alverstone..vigorously denounced the ‘sixpenny throw⁓away rubbish’. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 149 A sombre Y.M.C.A. young man..placed a throwaway in a hand of Mr Bloom. 1944 Sun (Baltimore) 1 June 16-o/3 The small throw-aways contain the latest authentic reports of the progress of the war. 1954 [see junk mail s.v. junk n.2 5]. 1965 Newsweek 21 June 70/2 The advertisements in the two editions of the weekly shopper's throwaway. 1973 D. Ramsay Deadly Discretion 102 Here's our throwaway. It's also the ad we run in the papers. |
b. More generally, anything designed to be thrown away after use; spec. a disposable container. Cf. sense 2 a of the adj. below. colloq.
| 1953 Sun (Baltimore) 17 Feb. (B ed.) 30/7 The group of county delegates submitted a bill..which would ban the dispensing of alcoholic beverages in throw-aways. 1976 Monitor (McAllen, Texas) 29 Oct. 3a/3 Consumers could save millions of dollars a year in lower prices if soft drinks and beer were sold in returnable containers instead of throwaways. |
2. An act of throwing away, or that which is thrown away, in various senses. Also fig.
| 1911 G. B. Shaw Lett. to Granville Barker (1956) 178 If the attempt proves a throw away, it is only a throw⁓away of the chance I promised him, not of the play. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 223 A skiff, a crumpled throwaway..rode lightly down the Liffey. 1955 N.Y. Times 29 May vi. 15/1 Generally, the program opens with a line of girls in two or three minutes of fast-stepping, high-kicking precision dancing. This is a throwaway, designed to get late-comers settled into their seats before the real show starts. 1960 Twentieth Cent. Aug. 137 Each is a finely polished stylist: let no one be deceived by the easy, laconic throw-away of Ada Leverson. 1976 B. Jackson Flameout vi. 115 It was a pity that the best question was a throwaway to the other reporters: they didn't deserve it. 1983 Listener 13 Oct. 21/1 Even in films they hiss ‘What did he say?’ at a throwaway of dialogue, thus ensuring that the next few minutes are lost to all around. |
B. as adj.
1. Of prices: so low as to represent virtually no return for the goods sold; ‘give-away’.
| 1924 A. J. Small Frozen Gold xiii. 288 With a modicum of luck they might even be able to record every claim they had pegged—and then get rid of them at throw-away prices. 1967 Spectator 14 July 53/3 At throwaway prices everyone can afford the latest Camp, and there will be something new coming along next month. 1976 [see saturate v. 2 d]. |
2. a. Designating something designed to be thrown away after use; disposable.
| 1928 Weekly Dispatch 13 May 17 You can..clean your face at intervals with those throwaway hankies you buy from any chemist. 1945 Forbes (N.Y.) 15 Oct. 16/1 ‘Throw-away’ towels will arrive soon. 1958 Engineering 7 Feb. 192/3 The butane comes from a throwaway cartridge. 1970 Worship Jan. 41 Already one hears of loose-leaf prayer books and throw-away hymn books. 1982 J. Hansen Gravedigger iv. 33 Two plastic-handled throwaway razors. |
b. Pertaining to or characterized by the use of disposable goods or those with a short life-span.
| 1969 New Scientist 25 Sept. 648/1 We will undoubtedly have a formidable litter problem in our ‘throw away’ world..from..household equipment with built-in obsolescence. 1977 M. Drabble Ice Age ii. 114 She thanked God that she lived in a consumer throw-away flush-away advertising society. 1980 Jrnl. R. Soc. Arts Mar. 188/1 At the same time the ‘throw away’ attitude developed in society. |
3. Underemphatic or casual in style or technique; understated (usu. for increased effect). Cf. throw v.1 37 e.
| 1955 Time 4 Apr. 77/2 It takes a certain nerve for a comedian to try a throwaway line. 1958 M. Dickens Man Overboard vii. 102 He was more cunning than he seemed with that throw-away sixth-form voice. 1961 John o' London's 25 May 591/4, I remember his beautiful throw⁓away performance in Mr. Deeds goes to Town. 1969 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 30 Jan. 27/1 He will..carry us with him, a little breathless perhaps, and dizzy with his throw-away allusions and polyglot versatility. 1972 Daily Tel. 29 June 7/7 You can carry your enthusiasm..into casual slouchy nonchalance, and the outstanding collection of Stephen Adnitt had plenty of this throwaway chic. 1980 Times Lit. Suppl. 11 July 786/3 The style of the narrative is measured but evocative; a little throw-away, a little affected by the insidious influence of Peter Fleming. |