chuck out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal
Quick answer
What does “chuck out” mean?
to throw something away.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to throw something away; to discard.
To force someone to leave a place (e.g., a pub, a house, a meeting); to eject.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common and colloquial in British English. American English speakers would understand it but more frequently use 'throw out' or 'kick out'.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries an informal, sometimes abrupt or unceremonious connotation.
Frequency
High frequency in informal British English; medium-low frequency in American English, where 'throw out' (objects) and 'kick out' (people) are dominant.
Grammar
How to Use “chuck out” in a Sentence
chuck [something] outchuck [someone] out (of [a place])get chucked outVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chuck out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I need to chuck out these old magazines.
- The bouncer chucked the troublemaker out of the pub.
American English
- We should chuck out that broken chair.
- He got chucked out of the game for arguing with the referee.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; considered too informal. 'Dispose of assets' or 'terminate employment' would be used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Very common in informal conversation about discarding things or ejecting people.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chuck out”
- Incorrect: 'I chucked out it.' Correct: 'I chucked it out.' (Phrasal verb pronoun rule)
- Incorrect: 'He was chucked from the bar.' Correct: 'He was chucked out of the bar.' (requires 'out')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is distinctly informal. Use 'discard', 'dispose of', or 'eject' in formal writing.
Yes. For things, it means 'discard'. For people, it means 'force to leave', similar to 'kick out'.
They are very close synonyms. 'Chuck out' is more colloquial and slightly more common in British English. 'Throw out' is standard in both British and American English.
It derives from a late 17th-century word meaning 'to throw' or 'to toss', of uncertain origin, but is not related to the name Charles.
to throw something away.
Chuck out: in British English it is pronounced /tʃʌk aʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /tʃək aʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Chuck it in the bin!”
- “He got chucked out on his ear.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a rude person named CHUCK, who always throws things OUT of the window.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISCARDING IS THROWING (PHYSICAL REMOVAL)
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'chuck out' used INCORRECTLY?