Word of the Day, June 23: ‘Throw-in’

Word of the Day: THROW-IN
Pronunciation: UK /θrəʊ/ or US /θroʊ/
Meaning:
A throw-in generally means something extra that is included in addition to the main thing, often at no extra cost. It can also refer to specific actions in sports. In sports, a throw-in is a method of restarting play by throwing the ball from outside the field of play back into the game.

Examples for daily usage:

• The referee awarded a throw-in to the blue team.
• She took a quick throw-in and created a goal chance.

Origin and history:

The term "throw-in" traces its origins back to 1850s English sports, primarily emerging from early soccer and football rules as a method to restart play when the ball crossed the touchline. It entered the lexicon officially in the mid-1850s, with its earliest known recorded use appearing in the New Sporting Magazine.

Cultural significance and modern usage:

In soccer and rugby, the throw-in (or throw) is the method of returning an out-of-bounds ball into active play.

Historically, throwing was mankind’s earliest way of interacting with objects, evolving from basic survival hunting to ancient sports like the javelin and discus. It represents community heritage, where ancestral hunting skills evolved into modern games.In Figurative Language: The literal athletic action birthed widely used idioms.

To "throw in the towel" means to concede defeat or give up—a phrase originating in the boxing ring where trainers threw a towel to stop a fight.

Similarly, if a merchant chooses to "throw in" an item, they are contributing a bonus or supplement at no extra charge.

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Interesting facts:

• “Throw in the towel” and “throw-in” sound similar but mean completely different things.
• In business language, a throw-in can influence buying decisions even when the extra item has a low cost.

Examples from literature:

1. Jeremiah controlled the throw-in and tapped it back to Bien, who crossed the ball back into the middle and right at Idwar Dikori.- Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference by Warren St. John
2. Only minutes into the game, Jeremiah took a throw-in on the far side, near the corner.- Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference by Warren St. John
3. You're an old sourdough miner, and we-all agree we'd like to have you throw -in with us.- The Yukon Trail: A Tale of the North by William MacLeod Raine
4. Reddie turned first base, flitted on toward second, went headlong in the dust, and shot to the base before White got the throw-in from Babcock.- The Redheaded Outfield, and Other Baseball Stories by Zane Grey

Synonyms:

• Bonus
• Gift
• Dividend

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