throw one's weight around

verb

To exercise influence or authority, especially to an excessive degree or in an objectionable manner.

“Jim was a tyrant who threw his weight around when it came to punishing his students.”

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Meanings

verbthrow one's weight around (third-person singular simple present throws one's weight around, present participle throwing one's weight around, simple past threw one's weight around, past participle thrown one's weight around)

present singular third person throws one's weight around · participle present throwing one's weight around · past threw one's weight around · participle past thrown one's weight around

  1. idiomaticTo exercise influence or authority, especially to an excessive degree or in an objectionable manner.

    Jim was a tyrant who threw his weight around when it came to punishing his students.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
cut a wide swath
Cite this entry
APA

throw one's weight around. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/throw%20one's%20weight%20around

MLA

“throw one's weight around.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/throw%20one's%20weight%20around. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “throw one's weight around,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/throw%20one's%20weight%20around.

Source: throw one's weight around on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.