English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Throw to the wolves
Meaning
The idiom "throw to the wolves" means to abandon or betray someone, usually by turning them over to an enemy or difficult situation. It can also mean to punish someone severely or to give up on a plan or project. This idiom is often used in negative contexts and suggests that the person being thrown to the wolves will face harm or danger as a result of their actions or decisions.
Usage
- When she found out her friend had been lying to her, she threw him under the bus and exposed his lies to everyone.
- The company decided to throw the new employees to the wolves by giving them no training or support.
- After being caught stealing, the thief was thrown to the wolves and left to fend for himself in jail.
- When the project faced unexpected challenges, the team leader threw his colleagues to the wolves and assigned all the work to a single person.
- The boss decided to throw the struggling salesman to the wolves by firing him without warning.
Roots and History
The origin of this idiom is unclear, but it has been used since at least the 14th century in English literature. One theory suggests that it comes from a story about ancient Roman gladiators who were thrown into the arena to fight against wild wolves for entertainment. Another theory suggests that it comes from medieval Europe when people would throw their enemies or perceived threats to the wolves as punishment. Over time, the usage of this idiom has remained relatively consistent, with it being used in negative contexts to describe betrayal or punishment. However, its popularity has increased in recent years due to its use in popular culture and media.
Synonyms in English
- Betrayal
- Punishment
- Abandonment
- Turning someone over
- Casting someone out
Synonyms in other languages
- Throw to the wolves - French: jeter à la loups, Italian: lasciare alle lupi, Spanish: dejar a los lobos
- Punishment - French: châtiments, Italian: punizioni, Spanish: castigo
- Betrayal - French: infidelité, Italian: tradimento, Spanish: traición
- Abandonment - French: abandon, Italian: abbandono, Spanish: abandono
- Turning someone over - French: livrer à l'ennemi, Italian: consegnare al nemico, Spanish: entregar al enemigo