to throw down
18
7.0
- phrasal verb
- /θroʊ daʊn/
- Informal
:
pelearse
- Step into the ring and throw down, ese.
- threw down the gauntlet
- throw down a dunk
- threw down a challenge
A challenge thrown down, waiting to see how he'd react.
- A challenge thrown down, waiting to see how he'd react.
- I've sat here and watched him and and Ted from engineering throw down hard on the Star Trek stuff.
- So sometimes you just got to be willing to throw down, but it doesn't mean throwing down is the point.
Examples
-
Throw down your arms!
-
If you want to throw down, fine.
-
"Now we're even." "All right." "So throw down, man."
Fiction book (2002) -
And he said, no, I'm here to challenge you to a throw down at that point.
-
Throw down your weapons!
-
OK, you've thrown down the creative gauntlet on this one, but the movie's actually quite compelling.
-
Lifting Ivan higher to show for whom she spoke, Aria told him, "Throw down your arms and submit."
Fiction book (2002) -
Howard and Bossard have the ability to score points in bunches, while Couch has thrown down several powerful slam dunks this season.
Blog text (3) -
I have to say that, for me, they've certainly thrown down the gauntlet by declaring "Suck it, Wolverine!"
Blog text (23) -
At the party, they decided to throw down and see who could win the arm wrestling match.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To take part in a physical or verbal struggle against someone
123
1.8
To struggle physically by holding and trying to push someone or something down
56
6.7
Act with a lot of energy, often fighting, arguing, or working hard
47
2.0
To fight another person using the fists, often as a sport
16
5.8
Move quickly and forcefully toward someone or something to attack
8
6.5
To start fighting physically with someone after an argument
4
7.7
To openly challenge someone in front of others
1
5.4
Openly invite someone to compete with you
To attack someone with your body or with strong words
To get into a physical fight with someone
Challenge someone to a duel because of an insult
Antonyms
How Confrontational
60
4.6
∞
1.0
310
4.1
- Informal
18
7.0
355
3.0
983
2.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal meanings of 'throw' (propel) and 'down' (toward or to a lower position / bring down) provide a partial cue: together they evoke forcing someone or something to the ground, which connects metaphorically to defeating or confronting someone. However, the specific sense 'to issue a challenge or engage in a fight/competition' is a figurative extension and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so learners need some exposure to grasp this use.
Etymology
The verb throw down may come from a simple image: someone would throw a glove down on the ground to challenge another person to a fight. So today throw down means to accept a bold challenge or 'fight' and show strong skill.