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to throw stones in a glass house

to throw stones in a glass house

8.4
To blame others when you have the same faults
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : criticar a otros
  • He accused his colleague of incompetence, but he shouldn't throw stones in a glass house given his own mistakes.

Examples

  • Politicians often throw stones in a glass house without addressing their own shortcomings.

  • Before you throw stones in a glass house, consider your own actions and flaws.

  • Don't throw stones in a glass house!

  • She is always throwing stones in a glass house when she criticizes others.

  • Before you throw stones in a glass house, consider your own actions and flaws.

  • He accused his colleague of incompetence, but he shouldn't throw stones in a glass house given his own mistakes.

  • Politicians often throw stones in a glass house without addressing their own shortcomings.

Synonyms

to cast the first stone
vsto throw stones in a glass house
  • Literature
6 7.7

To be the first to criticize someone when you have the same fault

is general criticism while the critic remains open to identical fault
to throw stones
vsto throw stones in a glass house
  • Informal
2 6.7

Say bad things about others while ignoring your own faults

is vulnerable to the same criticism because they share similar faults

Antonyms

A habit of judging yourself harshly for your actions or abilities

How Hypocritical

to throw stones in a glass house
  • Informal
8.4
to throw stones
  • Informal
2 6.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

throw + stones + in + a + glass + house

The phrase evokes a clear literal image — throwing stones in a glass house would break your own windows — so learners can infer a notion of self‑damage or foolishness from the constituents. However, the conventionalized sense 'don’t criticize others when you have the same faults' requires a cultural/proverbial mapping that is not fully predictable from the words alone, though its presence in many languages makes the inference easier for some learners.

Etymology

Throw stones in a glass house creates a clear picture: if you throw stones while living in a glass house, the glass will break and you will be hurt yourself. So it means 'to criticize others when you have the same faults'.