Dictionary

throw down en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

US, popularized 1970s in street culture, from idiom throw down the gauntlet (“to issue a challenge”), used in sense “to fight, to incite a fight, to make a stand” or otherwise get about partying with abandon (first used by Jay Johnson in Detroit in 1978 - taken nationally by Cecil Franklin, manager/brother of Aretha Franklin). Sense of “accomplish something respectable” evolved from sense “to make a stand, to exhibit, to demonstrate (in a challenging way)” inherent in the fighting sense. Sense of “to make a contribution” likely influenced by sense “to make a stand”, as in “are you in?”, “will you stand up and contribute?”

Meanings

1. (transitive) To cause something one is holding to drop, often forcefully.
   • The soldiers threw down their weapons and surrendered.
2. (dated, transitive) To destroy or demolish.
   • to throw down a tower
3. (idiomatic, slang, transitive) To produce or perform (something) admirably or forcefully.
   • ...this guide tracks the artists and recordings that throw down the funk! 2001, Dave Thompson, Funk, back cover:
   • “Punch up the rhymes. Throw down some beats. Show off that body. You'll be unstoppable.” 2004, Kylie Adams, Ex-Girlfriends, page 48:
4. (broadly, idiomatic, intransitive, slang) To accomplish or produce something in a grand, respectable, or successful manner; to "represent".
   • Yeah, they could literally throw down. When their sound came out, it was earth-shaking. 1997, Richard C. Green, Soul: Black Power, Politics, and Pleasure, page 93:
   • “You're performing for the who's who of radio and records at the Soul Train Awards tonight and you've got to throw down”. 1998, Sheila Copeland, Chocolate Star, page 260:
5. (idiomatic, intransitive, slang) To drink a large amount quickly.
   • "We need to finish these five pitchers in half an hour, so throw down as fast as you can!"
6. (idiomatic, intransitive, slang) To fight; to make a stand.
   • [to Jesus Christ] Yeah, I’ve got fucking faith, dude! What do you have, you little bitch? You wanna throw down, bro? 2025 October 15, “Twisted Christian”, in South Park, season 28, episode 1, spoken by PC Principal:
   • When someone near me at a show called the band My Boring Racket, I was ready to throw down, but for the good sense of an accompanying female... 2004, William Bowers, “I Think I'm Going to Hell”, in Da Capo Best Music Writing 2004, page 41:
   • Today's young and hip black male who fancies himself a radical, who is ready to throw down for the cause, is not talking about neo-colonialism, about global struggle. 2004, bell hooks, We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity, page 59:
   • The time has come. I'm ready to take action. I wanna kick ass and take names later. I wanna throw down, baby boy and baby girl. 2006, Sherman D. Manning, Blue-Eyed Blonde, page 345:
   • Let's you and me 'throw down' right here, right now! 2002, Lory Janelle Dance, Tough Fronts: The Impact of Street Culture on Schooling, page 60:
   • She said no words and was the first to throw down. She stepped up to Dee, and pow! 2006, Erick S. Gray, Nasty Girls: An Urban Novel, page 32:
   • Age ain't nothin' but a number / Throwin' down ain't nothin' but a thing / This lovin' I have for you, it'll never change 1994 December 6, R. Kelly, “Age Ain't Nothing but a Number”, in Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, performed by Aaliyah, track 4:
7. (idiomatic, intransitive, slang) To make an individual contribution to a group effort (e.g. money pool, collaborative record album).
   • "We're goin' in on a pizza; you in?" "Yeah, I'll throw down."

Forms

Relateds

bring it · throw-down · throw down the gauntlet · throwdown · throw up

Synonyms

cast down · throw aside · cast aside

Translations (3)

eo terĵeti (cause something to drop forcefully) · pl upuszczać (cause something to drop forcefully) · pl upuścić (cause something to drop forcefully)