sling
sling — verb
1. to toss or drop something in a rough or hasty way, without taking care of where
to toss or drop something in a rough or hasty way, without taking care of where it lands
Vinícius slung his backpack onto the floor and collapsed on the sofa.
sling + object + location (onto/in/over)
Maeve slung the wet towel over the bathroom door as she rushed out.
"Just sling your bags anywhere you like," said Greta with a friendly wave.
informal imperative: sling + object + anywhere
The children slung their coats onto the hooks and dashed into the garden.
Eshe slung the old newspapers into the recycling bin without checking them.
- sling + bag/coat/backpack
- sling + onto the floor/bed/chair
- sling + into the bin/corner
Grammar Patterns
sling + object + location phrase
Usage Note
Often followed by a direction phrase such as onto, into, or over to describe where the object lands. The verb carries a casual, sometimes careless tone — stronger than 'put' but less forceful than 'hurl'.
Common Mistakes
2. to toss or pass something to another person in a casual or hurried way, often wi
to toss or pass something to another person in a casual or hurried way, often without looking or stopping what you are doing
"Catch!" Bilal yelled as he slung the keys across the room to Lakan.
sling + object + to + recipient (directional)
Kenji slung a bottle of water to his sister before the hike began.
The chef slung a hot pan to his assistant without even turning around.
Alessia slung her phone over to Devika so she could see the photo on screen.
At the campsite Christopher slung a bag of marshmallows to Mira across the table.
informal: sling + everyday object + across/over
- sling + keys/phone/bottle
- sling + to/over/across
- sling + someone + something
- hand
careful, deliberate passing from one person to another
Grammar Patterns
sling + someone + something
sling + something + to + someone
Usage Note
This sense always involves a recipient — the person receiving the thrown object is either named directly after the verb (sling someone something) or introduced by to (sling something to someone). The action is typically quick and casual.
Common Mistakes
3. to put something loosely around or over a surface, object, or part of your body
to put something loosely around or over a surface, object, or part of your body so that it hangs or rests there
Greta slung her scarf around her neck before stepping out into the cold.
sling + object + around + body part
The driver slung one arm over the back of the passenger seat while reversing.
Vinícius slung the camera strap across his chest and set off down the trail.
A large banner was slung between two trees for the street festival.
passive: be slung + between/across
Maeve slung a heavy bag of rice over her shoulder and climbed the stairs.
- sling + scarf/bag/strap/arm
- sling + around/over/across/between
- remove
taking something off rather than putting it on loosely
Grammar Patterns
sling + object + around/over/across + body part or surface
Usage Note
Commonly used with position phrases like around, over, across, or between. The object is typically a flexible item — a scarf, bag, strap, arm, or banner — that can drape or hang freely.
Common Mistakes
sling off at
phrasal verbTo make unkind or critical remarks about someone.
Maya kept slinging off at her brother during dinner.
Why do you always sling off at people who disagree with you?
sling your hook
idiomTo leave a place, especially because you are not wanted.
The shopkeeper told the noisy kids to sling their hook.
If you're not going to help, just sling your hook.
sling — noun
1. a loop of cloth that hangs from the neck to keep an injured arm, wrist, or hand
a loop of cloth that hangs from the neck to keep an injured arm, wrist, or hand steady against the body while it recovers
After breaking his wrist Christopher wore a sling for nearly six weeks.
wear a sling (collocation)
The nurse placed Mira's arm in a sling and adjusted the knot behind her neck.
place/put [body part] in a sling
Eshe spent the summer with her left arm in a sling after the bicycle accident.
The doctor showed Devika how to make a temporary sling from a triangular bandage.
Maeve's shoulder hurt so badly that she asked for a sling at the clinic reception.
- in a sling
- wear a sling
- put/place in a sling
- arm sling
- support bandage
a broader term that includes wraps and braces for various body parts
Grammar Patterns
in a sling
wear a sling
have [body part] in a sling
Usage Note
Frequently used in the phrase 'in a sling' to describe the position of the injured limb. A sling is different from a bandage — a sling supports the weight of the arm, while a bandage wraps around a wound.
Common Mistakes
2. a piece of soft cloth worn across the body, forming a pouch or wrap to hold a ba
a piece of soft cloth worn across the body, forming a pouch or wrap to hold a baby close to the wearer's chest, hip, or back
Alessia carried her baby in a soft cotton sling while walking through the busy market.
carry a baby in a sling
The father learned to tie the baby sling before his solo outing with the infant.
Many parents prefer a sling over a stroller when visiting crowded indoor spaces.
prefer a sling over a stroller (comparison)
Lakan bought a sling made of breathable fabric for the hot summer months.
- baby sling
- cotton sling
- carry in a sling
- wear a sling
- baby carrier
a broader category that includes both soft slings and structured carriers with buckles and straps
Grammar Patterns
carry [baby] in a sling
baby sling
Usage Note
Baby slings come in different styles — ring slings, wrap slings, and pouch slings. Unlike a structured baby carrier, a sling is made entirely of fabric and requires tying or adjusting.
3. a band, strap, or net made of strong material, used with a crane or hoist to lif
a band, strap, or net made of strong material, used with a crane or hoist to lift, lower, or support heavy objects
The workers wrapped a steel sling around the crate before the crane lifted it.
steel sling / wrapped around + object
A cargo sling made of thick ropes held the wooden pallet steady during lifting.
The moving crew used a canvas sling to lower the piano through the upstairs window.
Devika checked the rope sling for wear before letting it carry the machinery.
check a sling for wear (safety procedure)
- steel sling
- rope sling
- cargo sling
- wrap a sling around
- check a sling for wear
Usage Note
In construction and shipping contexts, a sling is rated for a specific weight limit. Always use a sling that is strong enough for the load.
4. a simple weapon made from a narrow strap with two cords at the ends, used to thr
a simple weapon made from a narrow strap with two cords at the ends, used to throw a stone by swinging it around and releasing one cord at high speed
In ancient times soldiers used a sling to hurl stones accurately at enemy lines.
historical: used by soldiers in battle
The shepherd carried a sling to scare wild animals away from his flock of sheep.
David defeated Goliath with a single stone fired from his sling.
Biblical reference: David and Goliath
Archaeologists uncovered a collection of sling stones from a battlefield over two thousand years old.
- use a sling
- sling stone
- a sling and a stone
- shepherd's sling
Usage Note
This is the original meaning of the word and appears in historical and biblical texts. In modern contexts it is often replaced by 'slingshot' (a Y-shaped device with elastic) for children's toys.
Common Mistakes
5. a mixed alcoholic drink made with spirits, sugar, citrus juice, and still or spa
a mixed alcoholic drink made with spirits, sugar, citrus juice, and still or sparkling water, served either hot or cold with ice
The bartender mixed a Singapore sling with gin, cherry brandy, and fresh lime juice.
Singapore sling (famous variety)
Bilal ordered a hot gin sling to warm himself on the chilly winter evening.
The menu listed several classic sling cocktails including the gin sling and the Singapore sling.
That old hotel bar has been famous for its house sling recipe since the nineteen-twenties.
- Singapore sling
- gin sling
- hot sling
- order a sling
- house sling
- cocktail
a broader category; all slings are cocktails but not all cocktails are slings
Usage Note
The best-known variety is the Singapore Sling, created at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. A sling differs from other cocktails in its simple formula of spirit plus sweet and sour plus water, without additional flavoured liqueurs.
Word family
- slingernounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Toss, fling, chuck, hurl, and sling all describe throwing something, but they differ in energy and tone. Toss is the gentlest — a short, light throw, often to someone nearby ('She tossed him the keys'). Fling adds emotion, usually anger or excitement, and implies a wide arm motion ('He flung the book across the room'). Chuck is informal British English for a casual, unconcerned throw ('Chuck it in the bin'). Hurl is the strongest, suggesting full-force, violent throwing ('The crowd hurled bottles at the players'). Sling sits between fling and chuck — it is casual and careless but not necessarily forceful or angry. For example: 'She slung her bag on the chair' suggests she did not bother to place it carefully; 'She flung her bag on the chair' suggests she was annoyed.
Common collocations
Nouns
- backpack
- towel
- coat
- scarf
- bag
- keys
- strap
- arm
Adverbs
- carelessly
- loosely
- casually
- roughly
Phrases
- in a sling
- sling over one's shoulder
- sling around one's neck
Prepositions
- over
- around
- across
- onto
- into
- between
Etymology
The word sling comes from Old English slingan, meaning 'to twist, wind, or turn'. This ancient root describes the twisting motion of the weapon — a strap that is whirled around before releasing a stone. By the 13th century, the verb had gained the broader sense of 'to throw with a swinging motion'. The noun for the weapon appeared around the same time, and later the word was applied to other hanging or lifting devices — the arm sling (18th century) and the baby sling (20th century) — that share the idea of something suspended or swung. The cocktail meaning (a sling) dates from the 17th century and may come from a German word schlingen, meaning 'to swallow quickly'.