throw down

present singular third person throws down · participle present throwing down · past threw down · participle past thrown down

1. transitiveTo cause something one is holding to drop, often forcefully.

   The soldiers threw down their weapons and surrendered.

   Synonyms: cast down, cast aside, throw aside

2. datedtransitiveTo destroy or demolish.

   to throw down a tower

3. idiomaticslangtransitiveTo produce or perform (something) admirably or forcefully.

   ...this guide tracks the artists and recordings that throw down the funk!

   2001, Dave Thompson, Funk, back cover

   1 more example

   “Punch up the rhymes. Throw down some beats. Show off that body. You'll be unstoppable.”

   2004, Kylie Adams, Ex-Girlfriends, page 48

4. broadlyidiomaticintransitiveslangTo accomplish or produce something in a grand, respectable, or successful manner; to "represent".

   Yeah, they could literally throw down. When their sound came out, it was earth-shaking.

   1997, Richard C. Green, Soul: Black Power, Politics, and Pleasure, page 93

   1 more example

   “You're performing for the who's who of radio and records at the Soul Train Awards tonight and you've got to throw down”.

   1998, Sheila Copeland, Chocolate Star, page 260

5. idiomaticintransitiveslangTo drink a large amount quickly.

   "We need to finish these five pitchers in half an hour, so throw down as fast as you can!"

6. idiomaticintransitiveslangTo fight; to make a stand.

   Let's you and me 'throw down' right here, right now!

   2002, Lory Janelle Dance, Tough Fronts: The Impact of Street Culture on Schooling, page 60

   5 more examples

   Age ain't nothin' but a number / Throwin' down ain't nothin' but a thing / This lovin' I have for you, it'll never change

   1994 December 6, R. Kelly, “Age Ain't Nothing but a Number”, in Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, performed by Aaliyah, track 4

   When someone near me at a show called the band My Boring Racket, I was ready to throw down, but for the good sense of an accompanying female...

   2004, William Bowers, “I Think I'm Going to Hell”, in Da Capo Best Music Writing 2004, page 41

   Today's young and hip black male who fancies himself a radical, who is ready to throw down for the cause, is not talking about neo-colonialism, about global struggle.

   2004, bell hooks, We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity, page 59

   She said no words and was the first to throw down. She stepped up to Dee, and pow!

   2006, Erick S. Gray, Nasty Girls: An Urban Novel, page 32

   The time has come. I'm ready to take action. I wanna kick ass and take names later. I wanna throw down, baby boy and baby girl.

   2006, Sherman D. Manning, Blue-Eyed Blonde, page 345

7. idiomaticintransitiveslangTo make an individual contribution to a group effort (e.g. money pool, collaborative record album).

   "We're goin' in on a pizza; you in?" "Yeah, I'll throw down."