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Glite Dictionary
to throw stones in a glass house

to throw stones in a glass house

1 8.4
To blame others when you have the same faults
  • idiom
  • Informal
: 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 throw stones
vsto throw stones in a glass house
  • Informal
18 6.7

Say bad things about others while ignoring your own faults

is vulnerable to the same criticism because they share similar faults
to cast the first stone
vsto throw stones in a glass house
  • Literature
8 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

Antonyms

self-criticism
6 5.1

A habit of judging yourself harshly for your actions or abilities

How Hypocritical

to throw stones in a glass house
  • Informal
1 8.4
to throw stones
  • Informal
18 6.7

Surface Forms

throw stones in a glass house infinitive
throwing stones in a glass house present participle
throws stones in a glass house third person singular
threw stones in a glass house past
thrown stones in a glass house past participle

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'.