# toss

Pronunciation: US say "TAWS" /tɔs/; UK/AUS say "TOS" /tɒs/

## Verb

1. To throw something so that it first moves upward.
   - Simple: To throw something up into the air.
   - _He likes to toss peanuts into the air and catch them in his mouth._
   - _The juggler tossed three rings high above his head._
3. To get rid of something by throwing it away. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To throw something away because you don't want it.
   - _Just toss any leftovers you won't eat._
   - _She tossed the broken umbrella without a second thought._
4. To flip a coin into the air to settle a question or disagreement.
   - Simple: To flip a coin to decide something.
   - _We can toss for the last slice if neither of us will give in._
   - _The referees tossed to determine which team kicked off._
5. To mix a salad by lightly lifting and turning its ingredients, usually to coat them in dressing.
   - Simple: To gently mix a salad so the dressing covers everything.
   - _Toss the pasta with the warm sauce so it clings to each piece._
   - _He tossed the salad gently to keep the leaves from bruising._
7. To search a room or cell thoroughly, sometimes leaving visible disorder, while looking for valuables or evidence of a crime. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To quickly search a room or cell, often leaving a mess behind.
   - _Detectives toss the suspect's room whenever they expect to find hidden contraband._
   - _They tossed the entire apartment but found nothing incriminating._
8. To lift or raise something with a sudden, forceful motion.
   - Simple: To lift something up suddenly and hard.
   - _The proud rider tossed her head and rode on._
   - _Startled deer toss their heads at the slightest sound._
9. To agitate someone or something, leaving them restless and unsettled.
   - Simple: To make someone feel restless and unable to relax.
   - _Fever and worry tossed the patient throughout the night._
   - _Restless thoughts toss sleepers who carry the day's stress to bed._
10. To roll and tumble about, or be in a state of violent commotion.
   - Simple: To roll and turn around without stopping, like in rough water.
   - _He tossed restlessly under the blankets, unable to fall asleep._
   - _Small boats toss wildly whenever the wind picks up._
11. Of a ship or fleet, to be thrown about by rough water or heavy seas.
   - Simple: Of a ship, to be thrown up and down by rough seas.
   - _The fishing fleet tossed helplessly through the night gale._
   - _Tall ships toss on the swell long after the storm has passed._
16. To vomit, bringing up the contents of the stomach through the mouth. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To throw up the food in your stomach, usually because you feel sick.
   - _After one too many drinks, he stumbled outside to toss in the alley._
   - _She tossed twice on the rocking boat before the seasickness finally eased._
17. To stimulate one's own genitals for sexual pleasure. *(slang, UK)*
   - Simple: To touch one's own private parts for sexual pleasure.
   - _Blokes will toss off anywhere they think no one is watching._
   - _She walked in while he was tossing off and quickly backed out._
19. To drink in large gulps; to swallow quickly. *(slang, UK)*
   - Simple: To drink something quickly in big gulps.
   - _Sailors would toss their grog in a single swallow._
   - _She tossed the last of the cider and set the glass down._
20. To put through hardship or trouble; to harass.
   - Simple: To cause someone a lot of trouble or worry over a long time.
   - _Fate had tossed the sailors through one disaster after another._
   - _Endless setbacks toss anyone bold enough to start a business._
22. To raise the oars from the oarlocks and hold them upright, with the handles resting on the bottom of the boat.
   - Simple: To lift the oars straight up out of their holders and rest the handles on the boat's floor.
   - _As the shell neared the pontoon, the eight tossed their oars in unison._
   - _Cadets must toss the oars cleanly before stepping ashore._

## Noun

2. A throw or lob of a ball or other object with an upward direction, often done without much care.
   - Simple: A light, careless throw of something up into the air.
   - _A gentle toss sent the coin spinning across the table._
   - _The shortstop's casual toss to first base ended the inning._
6. The flip of a coin before a cricket or soccer match to decide who bats first or which way each side plays.
   - Simple: The coin flip at the start of a game that decides who plays first.
   - _Winning the toss let the home side bowl first on a damp pitch._
   - _The visiting captain called correctly and elected to bat after the toss._
12. In radio or television, a handoff to another presenter that the outgoing presenter announces on air.
   - Simple: In TV or radio, the moment one presenter passes over to another.
   - _A clumsy toss left the co-host scrambling to pick up the segment._
   - _The presenter ended with a warm toss to the sports desk._
13. A condition of nervous agitation or commotion. *(slang, British)*
   - Simple: A worried, upset state where someone cannot stay calm.
   - _He worked himself into a complete toss over a tiny mistake._
   - _The whole household was in a toss the morning of the wedding._
14. The slightest amount of concern or interest in something. *(slang, British)*
   - Simple: The least little bit of caring about something.
   - _He couldn't give a toss about fashion or what other people wear._
   - _Frankly, nobody on the team gives a toss who gets the credit._
15. Worthless or foolish talk; nonsense. *(slang, UK)*
   - Simple: Silly talk or writing that has no real meaning.
   - _Critics dismissed the manifesto as pretentious toss._
   - _He talks an awful lot of toss when he's had a few drinks._
18. An instance of masturbating. *(UK)*
   - Simple: A single act of touching oneself for sexual pleasure.
   - _He reckoned a quick toss would help him relax before the interview._
   - _She teased him that he needed a toss to sort his mood out._
21. A proud or scornful upward jerk of the head.
   - Simple: A proud, quick lift of the head.
   - _With a toss of her head, she swept past without a word._
   - _He answered the insult with a haughty toss and turned on his heel._
24. A standard measured quantity of sprats, as reckoned at market.
   - Simple: A fixed amount of small fish (sprats) sold as one lot at the market.
   - _The dealer set aside a toss of sprats for the regular buyers._
   - _He haggled hard over the price of a toss of sprats._

## Verb

23. To keep in motion or play; to turn or tumble over. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To keep something moving about, or to turn it over and over.

## Origin

From Middle English tossen ("to buffet about, agitate, toss; to sift or winnow"), of uncertain origin. It may come from Old Norse (compare dialectal Norwegian tossa and dialectal Swedish tossa, "to strew, spread"), or perhaps from an alteration of Middle English tosen ("to tease, pull apart").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/toss (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).