to toss; throw with a quick motion, usually a short distance: Chuck that book to me, will you?
Informal. to resign from; relinquish; give up: He's chucked his job.
to pat, tap, or stroke lightly, as under the chin: She chucks her grown son under his chin as if he were still a baby.
Informal. to eject (a person) from a public place (often followed by out): They chucked him from the bar.I've been chucked out of better places than this!
Slang. to vomit; upchuck: It's the third time this week the dog's chucked his dinner.
noun
a light pat, tap, or stroke, as under the chin: Let Grammy give her angel a little chuck.
a toss or pitch; a short throw: Give it a chuck over here.
a sudden jerk or change in direction: She gave the toboggan a chuck and we all tumbled off into the snow.
Idioms for chuck
chuck it, BritishSlang. stop it; shut up: Sorry for snapping, but your children don't know when to chuck it!
Origin of chuck
1
First recorded in 1575–85; origin uncertain; psossibly from French choquer “to knock, clash;” cf. shock1
the cut of beef between the neck and the shoulder blade: Braise the chuck and you'll have a tender, inexpensive piece of meat.
a block or log used as a chock: Have you got a chuck I can use to keep my wagon from rolling?
Machinery.
a device for centering and clamping work in a lathe or other machine tool: You can't do the fine lathe work on the spindles without a proper chuck.
a device for holding a drill bit: This drill has a keyless chuck, which is great for jobs requiring frequent bit changes.
verb (used with object)
Machinery. to hold or secure with a chuck: A poorly chucked drill bit is neither efficient nor safe.
Origin of chuck
2
First recorded in 1665–75; variant of chock; see chunk1
Definition for chuck (3 of 7)
chuck3
[ chuhk ]
/ tʃʌk /
verb (used with or without object)
to cluck: The hypnotist made them chuck like chickens!A mother hen is chucking her chicks to come to her side.
noun
a clucking sound: We heard a loud chuck and saw him dashing from the henhouse with our prized layer.
Archaic. (used as a term of endearment): my love, my chuck.
Origin of chuck
3
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English chuk, expressive word, apparently imitative
Definition for chuck (4 of 7)
chuck4
[ chuhk ]
/ tʃʌk /
nounWestern U.S.Slang.
food or provisions, as on a cattle ranch or trail: By the time we stopped for some chuck, I was too dang tired to eat.
Origin of chuck
4
First recorded in 1840–50; special use of chuck2
Definition for chuck (5 of 7)
chuck5
[ chuhk ]
/ tʃʌk /
nounInformal.
woodchuck: Those blasted chucks have wiped out our entire garden.
Origin of chuck
5
By shortening
Definition for chuck (6 of 7)
chuck6
[ chuhk ]
/ tʃʌk /
nounCanadianSlang.
water: Just give me some fresh air and clean chuck.
any body of water: Lordy, that Nipigon is a beautiful chuck.
Origin of chuck
6
First recorded in 1855–60; from Chinook Jargon, probably from Nootka čʾaʔak “water,” reinforced by Lower Chinook ł-čuq “water”
Definition for chuck (7 of 7)
Chuck
[ chuhk ]
/ tʃʌk /
noun
a male given name, form of Charles.
Older Slang: Usually Disparaging and Offensive.
a term used to refer to a white person.
white society, culture, and values.
usage note for Chuck
Chuck in its slang sense was used especially in the 1960s and 1970s by Black people. This use arose by analogy with Mister Charlie, a slang term used in the same sense and also derived from a nickname for Charles.
In effect, Chuck and his team dared to trust that these clients would make good later on.
How the World’s Best Workplaces have led the way in a year unlike any other|lbelanger225|October 13, 2020|Fortune
From practically the day he took office as the 24th Secretary of Defense less than two years ago, Chuck Hagel was a marked man.
Hagel Takes a Bullet for Obama: Inside the Defense Secretary’s Sudden Firing|Shane Harris, Tim Mak|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“There was one good thing about it,” Chuck Davis says about his time in captivity.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Former Missouri State Senator Chuck Graham is paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair.
Why 2016’s Hopefuls Are Hopeless|P. J. O’Rourke|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I assume he thinks Chuck Taylors are still as the sneaker of choice and supports the idea of grabbing a quick smoke before tipoff.
2014 NBA Preview: Skinny LeBron and the Racist Ghost of Donald Sterling|Robert Silverman|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In late April or early May 1955, Chuck approached Muddy Waters about recording, and Muddy sent him to Leonard Chess.
How Rock and Roll Killed Jim Crow|Dennis McNally|October 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My dogs look like they are going to explode, said Chuck as he wiggled his toes in the cool water.
Slim Evans and his Horse Lightning|Graham M. Dean
He even tried to sing, which is something no Chuck can do or should ever try to do.
The Adventures of Johnny Chuck|Thornton W. Burgess
I could tell you things—all right, let us chuck the dispute for the time.
Cynthia's Chauffeur|Louis Tracy
The crowd gathered round and gave first aid to both combatants, while Chuck faced them, and waited for assaults.
Nights in London|Thomas Burke
For the chuck the upper part of the cavity of a metal cylinder is bored out so as to fit on the driving spindle.
Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II|Joshua Rose
British Dictionary definitions for chuck (1 of 4)
chuck1
/ (tʃʌk) /
verb(mainly tr)
informalto throw
to pat affectionately, esp under the chin
(sometimes foll by in or up) informalto give up; rejecthe chucked up his job; she chucked her boyfriend
(intr usually foll by up) slang, mainlyUSto vomit
chuck off atAustralian and NZinformalto abuse or make fun of
noun
a throw or toss
a playful pat under the chin
the chuckinformaldismissal
See also chuck in, chuck out
Word Origin for chuck
C16: of unknown origin
British Dictionary definitions for chuck (2 of 4)
chuck2
/ (tʃʌk) /
noun
Also called: chuck steaka cut of beef extending from the neck to the shoulder blade
Also called: three jaw chucka device that holds a workpiece in a lathe or tool in a drill, having a number of adjustable jaws geared to move in unison to centralize the workpiece or tool
Also called: four jaw chuck, independent jaw chucka similar device having independently adjustable jaws for holding an unsymmetrical workpiece