Sling vs Throw

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Sling

Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Throw

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

Most common: Throw

	Sling	Throw
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //slɪŋ// 🇺🇸 //slɪŋ//	🇬🇧 /["/θrəʊ/","/θrəʊz/","/θruː/","/θrəʊn/","/ˈθrəʊɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/θrəʊ/","/θrəʊz/","/θruː/","/θrəʊn/","/ˈθrəʊɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	To throw something with force.	To send something through the air by using your hand.
Example	He decided to sling his backpack over his shoulder.	I will throw the ball to you.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 5,000 (fairly common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	-	A2
Part of speech		verb
Collocations	sling something, sling over, sling back, sling across, sling your arm	angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open, angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open, angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open, angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open, angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open, angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open, angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open
Antonyms	catch, hold	catch, receive
Common mistakes	Confused with 'sling' meaning a type of bag., Using 'slung' incorrectly in past tense forms., Not using appropriate object with 'sling'.	'Throwed' instead of 'threw' as the past tense., Using 'throw' without an object, which can be unclear., Confusing with 'toss', which implies a lighter action.
Usage notes	Use 'sling' for casual or physical contexts. It's not common in formal writing. Avoid using it in contexts that require elegance.	Use 'throw' when you are discussing physical actions of sending something away, often in casual contexts. Avoid in formal writing unless used metaphorically.

See it in real clips

where is that sling rope I told you to order?

Sling

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

LAURA: Nice throw, kiddo.

Well, you said we could throw out all the other evidence.

The Wire › S1 E1

and throw his ass right onto the motherfuckin' expressway.

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

LAURA: Nice throw, kiddo.

Well, you said we could throw out all the other evidence.

Throw

Frequently asked questions: Sling vs Throw

What's the difference between Sling and Throw?

Sling: To throw something with force. Throw: To send something through the air by using your hand.

Which is more common: Sling and Throw?

Throw is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Sling: He decided to sling his backpack over his shoulder. Throw: I will throw the ball to you.

Can I use Sling and Throw interchangeably?

Not always. Sling and Throw are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.