Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
throw back en · VERB
Pronunciation
- /θɹoʊ ˈbæk/ (US)
- /θɹəʊ ˈbæk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Meanings
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(transitive) To hinder the development of something.
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(intransitive) To revert to an earlier stage of development.
The Century
A large proportion of the steerage passengers throw back to their Darwinian ancestry.
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(transitive) To retort.
She jumped to her feet and began stalking away. “Going to cost me fifteen dollars to clean this outfit,” she threw back over her shoulder.
2011, Delores Haltom, The Stonecutter: How the Word Became Flesh, page 120:
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(transitive) To drink quickly, especially alcoholic beverages.
We threw back drinks until the next morning.
“He and I used to throw back beers every now and then when I was with the Bureau.” Shaw grinned arrogantly.
2021 July 8, James Patterson, Adam Hamdy, Private Rogue: (Private 16), Random House, →ISBN:
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Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see throw, back.
We caught several fish in the river but threw them back.
We all raised our glasses, threw them back. I was getting better, but I still felt the alcohol harder than Stephen ever had.
2017, Andrew Massie, In the Shadows of My Mind, page 197:I threw back my head and laughed uproariously.
Forms
Relateds
throwback
Synonyms
toss off