Toss Meaning
Toss Definition & Usage
To throw something lightly or casually, often without aiming precisely.
Examples
- "She tossed the keys onto the kitchen counter."
- "The kids tossed the ball back and forth during their break."
- "He tossed a coin into the fountain and made a wish."
- "I accidentally tossed the receipt into the trash."
- "They tossed their backpacks on the floor and sat down."
To cause something to move or flip through the air by a quick or forceful action.
Examples
- "The wind tossed the papers off the table."
- "He tossed his head back, laughing loudly."
- "The waves tossed the boat around during the storm."
- "She tossed the pancakes in the air and caught them in the pan."
- "The gymnast tossed her body into a perfect somersault."
To discard or reject something quickly or without much thought.
Examples
- "After the meeting, she tossed the proposal into the recycling bin."
- "He tossed aside his doubts and decided to go ahead with the plan."
- "Don't just toss your dreams away because of one setback."
- "I wish people wouldn't toss their old furniture in the street."
- "She tossed her old clothes into the donation pile."
To decide or determine something by throwing a coin or some other object, often as a way of resolving a decision.
Examples
- "We couldn't decide, so we tossed a coin to see who would go first."
- "They tossed the dice to determine who would win the game."
- "After a long discussion, they tossed a coin to make the final choice."
- "He tossed a coin to decide whether to stay or leave."
- "They tossed a stone into the water to see who could throw it the farthest."
Cultural Context
The word 'toss' has a long history, originating in Old French and Middle English. Its early meanings related to 'to throw' or 'to cast.' Over time, it has gained figurative uses to convey casual or careless actions, and its meaning has broadened in various contexts, from sports to everyday language.
The Coin Toss
Story
The Coin Toss
On a breezy afternoon, Sarah and Mike stood on the edge of a small bridge overlooking a shimmering lake. They had been debating whether to spend the rest of the day hiking or grabbing a quick bite at the café. After a few minutes of back-and-forth, Mike grinned and pulled out a coin from his pocket. 'Let's just toss a coin,' he suggested. Sarah raised an eyebrow but smiled. 'Alright, heads for hiking, tails for food.' She watched as he flipped the coin into the air, its silver edges catching the sunlight before it landed on the bridge with a soft clink. Mike leaned down to see the result and laughed. 'Hiking it is,' he said, tossing the coin into the water. Sarah smiled, knowing this was the perfect way to make a decision when the day was too beautiful to argue about. They gathered their gear and started walking, the sound of their laughter mixing with the gentle tossing of the leaves in the wind. They had both tossed aside their indecision, leaving the fates to the toss of a coin. It was a simple yet perfect moment.
