throwaway etymology

Etymology

• "Throw" + "Away"

Meaning

• To discard or get rid of something as useless or unwanted.
• To abandon or reject someone or something.

Origin

The term "throwaway" emerged in the early 20th century as a colloquialism meaning "something that is thrown away." It may have originated from the practice of throwing away items that were no longer of value or use, such as garbage or discarded objects.

The phrase was first recorded in print in 1934, in a newspaper article titled "Theater Guide for the Budget-Minded." It was used to describe low-cost plays or productions that were not expected to have a long run or critical success.

Over time, the term "throwaway" became more widely used in various contexts, including:

• To describe temporary or dispensable items, such as disposable cups or utensils.
• To refer to discarded or abandoned people, often in a derogatory sense.
• In the context of literature, music, or film, to describe a character, plotline, or element that is not essential to the main story and can be easily discarded or replaced.
• To refer to something that is intentionally disregarded or ignored, such as a suggestion or idea.

throwaway relate terms

• away

  Etymology The word away is derived from the Old English word awæg which is a compo

• throw

  Etymology Old English thragan Proto Germanic þragjaną Proto Indo European d

• warp

  Etymology Warp comes from the Old English word weorpan meaning to throw or to cast

• bill

  Etymology The name Bill is derived from the Middle English word Wille which is a dim

• broadside

  Etymology From Middle English brodesyde meaning the side of a ship The term origi

• flyer

  Etymology The word flyer has its roots in the Middle English word flier which in tur

• advertisement

  Etymology French avertissement Late Latin advertentia attention warning Meaning

• rifle

  Etymology The word rifle comes from the German word riffeln meaning to groove Thi

• speech

  Etymology The word speech derives from the Old English word spræc or spræce whic

• gamin

  Etymology French gamin Late Latin campanulus little bell ringer Meaning A mi

• advert

  Etymology The word advert is derived from the Latin word advertere which means to t

• society

  Etymology The word society comes from the Latin word societas which means associat