Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[missdaredevil]

reject something: to discard or abandon something such as an idea or project
plans that had to be jettisoned

That word seems slightly weird. Does anyone here use it?

Thanks

[bud]

Rarely.

[advoca]

Jettison means to throw goods, equipment, or fuel from a ship or plane in order to make it lighter and less likely to sink or crash.

It is a word that is often used in this meaning.

Hot air balloons carry weights called ballast, usually sand, to keep them steadyand if the baloon is sinking then the crew will have to jettison the sand.

Ships in a storm may have to jettison much of the cargo to make the ship stay afloat.

Aircraft that have to make an emergency landing often jettison most of the fuel to minimise the danger of fire if the plane crashes.

In the same sense, ideas or plans can be abandoned or thrown away (jettisoned)