throw up

What does "throw up" mean?

1. To vomit
2. To produce or bring up suddenly
3. To abandon or quit suddenly

Examples

• The child threw up after eating too much candy.
• The construction threw up a lot of dust.
• He threw up his hands in frustration.
• She threw up her job to travel the world.
• The scandal threw up many questions about corruption.

How to use it

Most commonly used informally for vomiting. 'Throw up your hands' means to give up in frustration.

Word order

When meaning vomit, usually intransitive. Otherwise separable.

Similar expressions

Opposites

Related phrasal verbs

• throw away

  To discard or dispose of something

• throw out

  To discard or get rid of

• throw in

  To include something extra for free

• get up

  To rise from bed after sleeping

• turn up

  To increase the volume, heat, or intensity of something

• give up

  To stop trying to do something, often because it is too difficult