Dictionary

throw something in someone's face en · VERB

Etymology

The figurative act of throwing a gift (senses 1 and 2), prize (sense 3) or merely an object (sense 4) in someone's face.

Meanings

1. To reject some act in a spiteful manner.
   • I tried to make up after the argument, but he just threw it in my face and stormed off.
2. To repay an act of kindness with disappointment or betrayal.
   • I supported you for months, and you've just thrown all that in my face by losing your job.
3. To lord over someone by exerting dominance, following a successful confrontation; sometimes in a subtle or snide manner.
   • Bringing the kids along was clearly just an excuse to throw it in my face after the divorce.
   • M: In the long run is your annoyance at critics for dismissing these movies because they are gay outweighed by your glee in proving them wrong later on? G: I don't know. It is sort of nice to be able to throw it in their face. But whatever personal pleasure I get in doing that doesn't make up for the fact that some very interesting and important movies never get an audience and are never taken seriously. 1990 August 11, Michael Bronski, George Mansour, “The Happy Booker”, in Gay Community News, volume 18, number 5, page 8:
4. To raise a past transgression in order to admonish someone.
   • She always throws that time I cheated in my face when we argue. It was ten years ago!
5. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see throw, something, in, someone, face.

Forms

Synonyms

rub something in someone's face