Meaning trap
throw away
waste an opportunity
To fail to use a chance or opportunity, often by making a mistake or not trying.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To fail to use a chance or opportunity, often by making a mistake or not trying.
Another meaning of 'throw away' is 'discard'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- She threw away her chance to study abroad by missing the application deadline.study
- Many people regret throwing away opportunities when they were younger, especially related to education or career.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: throw away something
WrongDon't throw away your future away.
RightDon't throw your future away.
Don't double 'away'; with a noun object it can go either side.
Patternthrow away something
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Throw away' captures wasting a chance carelessly; 'squander' is formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
throw away + chancea chancethe opportunityyour futureyour money
Don't confuse it
Different from the literal sense of 'throw away', which is about objects.
Related
- throw away (discard) — Another meaning of 'throw away' is 'discard'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.