echar
Echar might be the most surprisingly versatile verb in Spanish — it means throw, pour, fire, miss someone, and powers a huge number of fixed expressions.
echar (core meanings)
Throw out, pour, add, or sack someone — the physical throwing/placing sense.
Lo echaron del trabajo.
He was fired.
Echar a alguien = to throw someone out, fire them. Very common. Not 'despedir' (which also works but is more formal).
Echa sal a la pasta.
Add salt to the pasta.
Echar = to pour/add an ingredient. Very natural in cooking instructions.
Echaron la película anoche.
They showed the film last night.
Echar una película = to show/screen a film. What's on TV: '¿qué echan esta noche?'
echar (expressions)
Echar de menos, echar de ver, echarse a reír — echar powers some of the most important fixed expressions.
Te echo de menos.
I miss you.
Echar de menos = to miss someone or something. One of the most important phrases to know. 'Te extraño' is the Latin American equivalent.
Se echó a reír / a llorar.
He burst out laughing / crying.
Echarse a + infinitive = to suddenly start doing something. Always for sudden, involuntary action.
Échame una mano.
Give me a hand.
Echar una mano = to lend a hand. Echar un vistazo = to have a quick look. Echar la culpa = to blame. The expressions are endless.
Tricky bit
'Echar de menos' (to miss) vs 'extrañar' — in Spain you 'echo de menos' people; in Latin America you 'extraño' them. Using the wrong one doesn't cause confusion but reveals where you learned your Spanish. And 'echar' in expressions is almost always non-literal — don't try to unpack it logically.