jump down someone's throat

verb

To criticise with excessive and unexpected harshness.

“Try to remember next time, but don’t fret — I won’t jump down your throat if you forget.”

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Meanings

verbjump down someone's throat (third-person singular simple present jumps down someone's throat, present participle jumping down someone's throat, simple past and past participle jumped down someone's throat)

present singular third person jumps down someone's throat · participle present jumping down someone's throat · participle past jumped down someone's throat · past jumped down someone's throat · alternative climb down someone's throat · alternative leap down someone's throat

  1. idiomaticTo criticise with excessive and unexpected harshness.

    Try to remember next time, but don’t fret — I won’t jump down your throat if you forget.

    3 more examples

    Opposing counsel has a right to question you, and if you respond with smart talk or give evasive answers, opposing counsel may jump down your throat.

    2006, Larry Rice, The Complete Guide to Divorce Practice: Forms and Procedures for the Lawyer, 3rd edition, page 266

    ‘Thanks, Jean,’ he said. ‘Mike I'm sorry. I didn't mean to jump down your throat. Thanks for the advice. I will be careful.’

    2007, Michael Bennett, Bent, page 103

    “I'm sorry I jumped on you — jumped down your throat,” he amended, feeling like a complete idiot.

    2009, Shiela Stewart, Embracing the Darkness: Darkness Series, Book 3, page 59

Translations

Bulgarian нахвърлям се
  • нахвърлям се (nahvărljam se)criticise with excessive and unexpected harshness
Finnish hyökätä jonkun kimppuun
  • hyökätä jonkun kimppuuncriticise with excessive and unexpected harshness
German anschnauzen
  • anschnauzencriticise with excessive and unexpected harshness
Polish skakać sobie do gardeł
  • skakać sobie do gardełcriticise with excessive and unexpected harshness
Russian затыка́ть рот, не дава́ть слова сказа́ть
  • затыка́ть рот (zatykátʹ rot)criticise with excessive and unexpected harshness
  • не дава́ть слова сказа́ть (ne davátʹ slova skazátʹ)criticise with excessive and unexpected harshness
Spanish echársele encima a alguien, arremeter contra alguien
  • echársele encima a alguiencriticise with excessive and unexpected harshness
  • arremeter contra alguiencriticise with excessive and unexpected harshness
Swedish hoppa på någon
  • hoppa på någoncriticise with excessive and unexpected harshness
Cite this entry
APA

jump down someone's throat. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jump%20down%20someone's%20throat

MLA

“jump down someone's throat.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jump%20down%20someone's%20throat. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “jump down someone's throat,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jump%20down%20someone's%20throat.

Source: jump down someone's throat on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.