throw to the wolves

verb

To sacrifice someone, especially in an attempt to save oneself.

Similar
throw to the dogsthrow to the lions
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verbthrow to the wolves (third-person singular simple present throws to the wolves, present participle throwing to the wolves, simple past threw to the wolves, past participle thrown to the wolves)

present singular third person throws to the wolves · participle present throwing to the wolves · past threw to the wolves · participle past thrown to the wolves

  1. idiomaticTo sacrifice someone, especially in an attempt to save oneself.
  2. idiomaticTo remove or cast out someone or something out of one's protection, such as onto the streets, especially towards predators.

    Synonyms: throw to the dogs, throw to the lions

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo remove or cast out someone or something out of one's protection, such as onto the streets, especially towards predators.

Similar
throw to the dogsthrow to the lions
Also see
throw under the bus

Translations

German den Wölfen zum Fraß vorwerfen
  • den Wölfen zum Fraß vorwerfensacrifice — see also throw to the lions
Cite this entry
APA

throw to the wolves. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/throw%20to%20the%20wolves

MLA

“throw to the wolves.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/throw%20to%20the%20wolves. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “throw to the wolves,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/throw%20to%20the%20wolves.

Source: throw to the wolves on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.