balancer

Senses

1. 1.

   to swing, to sway

   to move back and forth in a regular motion

2. 2.

   to balance, to keep in equilibrium

   to maintain equal weight or position on both sides

3. 3.

   to throw, to fling

   to toss something with force (informal)

4. 4.

   to ditch, to dump

   to discard or get rid of something (slang)

Examples

• "L'enfant balance sur la chaise."

  The child is swinging on the chair.

• "Il faut balancer les comptes à la fin du mois."

  The accounts must be balanced at the end of the month.

• "Il a balancé ses vieilles affaires."

  He threw out his old stuff.

Usage

Common in everyday French; ranges from neutral (swing, balance) to informal/slang (throw, dump). The reflexive form "se balancer" means to swing oneself or to not care (c'est se balancer = couldn't care less).