throw about

English

Verb

throw about (third-person singular simple present throws about, present participle throwing about, simple past threw about, past participle thrown about)

1. (obsolete, nautical) To change direction; to change from one tack to another.

   Synonyms: go about, put about

   • 1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC:

     That now vnto despaire I gin to growe,
     And meane for better winde about to throwe.

   • 1805, The Naval Chronicle: Volume 14, July-December 1805:

     when they were got about two miles a-head, they threw about, and stood for us again

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see throw,‎ about.

   When the ship entered the violent storm, all the passengers were thrown about.