[through train]{n. phr.} A direct train that doesn’t necessitate any changes. •/We’ll take the through train from Chicago to New York because it’s the most convenient./

[throw] See: FREE THROW, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES.

[throw a curve]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To mislead or deceive someone; to lie. •/John threw me a curve about the hiring./ 2. To take someone by surprise in an unpleasant way. •/Mr. Weiner’s announcement threw the whole company a curve./

[throw a fit] See: HAVE A FIT.

[throw a monkey wrench] or [throw a wrench] {v. phr.}, {informal} To cause something that is going smoothly to stop. •/The game was going smoothly until you threw a monkey wrench into the works by fussing about the rules./ •/The Michigan tacklers threw a wrench into the Wisconsin team’s offense./ •/He hoped to see the class plan fail and looked for a chance to throw a wrench in the machinery./

[throw a party]{v. phr.}, {informal} To hold a party; have a party. •/The club is throwing a party in the high school gym Saturday night./ •/The Seniors threw a masquerade party on Halloween./

[throw a punch]{v. phr.} To strike at someone with your fist; hit; punch. •/Bob became so mad at Fred that he threw a punch at him./ •/The bell rang and the boxers started throwing punches./ Compare: TAKE A PUNCH AT.

[throw away]{v.} 1. To get rid of as unwanted or not needed; junk. •/Before they moved they threw away everything they didn’t want to take with them./ •/I never save those coupons; I just throw them away./ Syn.: THROW OUT. 2. To waste. •/The senator criticized the government for throwing away billions on the space program./ 3. To fail to make use of. •/She threw away a good chance for a better job./

[throw a wet blanket] See: WET BLANKET.

[throw caution to the winds] also [throw discretion to the winds] {v. phr.} To be daring; make a bold or risky move. •/Hearing that Apaches were planning to start a war, the whites decided to throw caution to the winds and attack the Apaches first./

[throw cold water on] also [dash cold water on] or [pour cold water on] {v. phr.} To discourage; say or do something to discourage. •/We had high hopes of victory but our opponents soon threw cold water on them./ •/Henry’s father threw cold water on his plans to go to college by saying he could not afford it./

[throw a loop] See: KNOCK FOR A LOOP.

[throw down the gauntlet]{v. phr.} To challenge, especially to a fight. •/Another candidate for the presidency has thrown down the gauntlet./

[throw for a loss]{v. phr.} 1. To tackle a member of the opposing football team behind the place where his team had the ball at the beginning of the play; push the other team back so that they lose yardage in football. •/The Blues' quarterback ran back and tried to pass, but before he could, the Reds' end threw him for a loss./ Compare: LOSE GROUND. 2. {informal} To surprise or shock (someone); upset; make worry greatly; cause trouble. •/It threw Jim for a loss when he failed the test./ •/Mr. Simpson was thrown for a loss when he lost his job./ Compare: KNOCK FOR A LOOP, SET BACK ON ONE’S HEELS.

[throw in]{v.} 1. To give or put in as an addition; to give to or with something else. •/John threw in a couple of tires when he sold Bill his bicycle./ •/Mary and Tess were talking about the prom, and Joan threw in that she was going with Fred./ Compare: FOR GOOD MEASURE. 2. To push into operating position. •/Mr. Jones threw in the clutch and shifted the gears./

[throw light on] See: CAST LIGHT ON, SHED LIGHT ON.

[throw something in one’s face] or [throw something in one’s teeth] {v. phr.} To blame a person for (something wrong); not allow someone to forget (a mistake or failure). — Often used with "back". •/Bob came home late for dinner last week, and his mother keeps throwing it back in his face./ •/I made a mistake in the ball game and the boys keep throwing it back in my teeth./ Compare: IN ONE’S FACE.

[throw in one’s lot with] or {literary} [cast in one’s lot with] {v. phr.} To decide to share or take part in anything that happens to; join. •/The thief decided to throw in his lot with the gang when he heard their plans./ •/Washington was rich, but he decided to cast in his lot with the colonies against Britain./ •/When Carl was old enough to vote, he threw in his lot with the Democrats./ Syn.: JOIN FORCES.

[throw in the sponge] or [throw up the sponge] or [throw in the towel] {v. phr.}, {informal} To admit defeat; accept loss. •/After taking a beating for five rounds, the fighter’s seconds threw in the sponge./ •/When Harold saw his arguments were not being accepted, he threw in the towel and left./ Syn.: GIVE UP.

[throw off]{v.} 1. To get free from. •/He was healthy enough to throw off his cold easily./ Compare: RID OF. 2. To mislead; confuse; fool. •/They went by a different route to throw the hostile bandits off their track./ 3. To produce easily or as if without effort. •/She could throw off a dozen poems in a night./

[throw off the scent]{v. phr.} To mislead; confuse. •/The robbers went different ways hoping to throw the sheriff’s men off the scent./ Syn.: THROW OFF(2).

[throw off the track]{v. phr.} To divert; mislead; confuse. •/The clever criminals threw the detective off the track by changing their names and faces./ Contrast: OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.

[throw oneself at someone’s feet]{v. phr.} To make a public display of serving, loving, or worshipping someone. •/When Arthur became king, almost all of the nobles threw themselves at his feet and promised to obey and serve him./ •/When the new girl entered school, several boys threw themselves at her feet./

[throw oneself at someone’s head] or [fling oneself at someone’s head] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try hard and openly to make a person love you. •/She threw herself at his head, but he was interested in another girl./ Compare: AT ONE’S FEET.

[throw one’s hat in the ring] or [toss one’s hat in the ring] {v. phr.}, {informal} To announce that you are going to try to be elected to an official position; become a candidate for office. •/Bill tossed his hat in the ring for class president./ •/The senator threw his hat in the ring for re-election./

[throw one’s weight around]{v. phr.}, {informal} To use one’s influence or position in a showy or noisy manner. •/John was the star of the class play, and he was throwing his weight around telling the director how the scene should be played./ •/Bob was stronger than the other boys, and he threw his weight around./ Compare: PULL RANK.

[throw open] 1. To open wide with a sudden or strong movement. •/He dashed in and threw open the windows./ 2. To remove limits from. •/The Homestead Act threw open the West./ •/When a hurricane and flood left many people homeless, public buildings were thrown open to shelter them./

[throw] or [feed one to the wolves] {v. phr.} 1. To turn someone into a scapegoat. •/In order to explain the situation to the media, the governor blamed the mayor and threw him to the wolves./ 2. To send into danger without protection. •/Mary was very shy. Her friends did not come to speak before the club in her place. They threw her to the wolves./ •/The boys on the football team were so small that when they played a good team they were thrown to the wolves./