to throw brickbats

8.9

Attack someone with strong words in public

idiom

Literature

: criticar duramente

After a period of pushing and shoving at the polls, with whites accusing blacks of throwing brickbats and pulling white voters out of lines, a pistol shot rang out.

Examples

While it is easy to throw brickbats from the sidelines, proposing practical solutions is more challenging.
And, before they throw brickbats, perhaps critics should point to alternative government initiatives that they consider to be superior?

Blog text (21)
I'd sooner throw brickbats myself! I'm sure you would.

Fiction book (1991)
It truly is easy to throw brickbats, but usually you offer a better plan.

Blog text (1)
The public was quick to throw brickbats at the politician after the scandal broke.
Critics love to throw brickbats at the latest movie release, often focusing on its weak plot.

Synonyms

to attack

vsto throw brickbats

597 3.4

To strongly criticize someone or something in public

is the idiom that frames such vigorous criticism as public harsh denunciation

to lash out

vsto throw brickbats

71 5.6

Suddenly say angry things about someone by speaking or writing

is used more generally for planned or ongoing harsh public criticism

to blast

vsto throw brickbats

Literature

61 5.3

To strongly criticize someone in public

is similar but emphasizes the idiomatic image of throwing harsh remarks

to bash

vsto throw brickbats

Informal

49 4.6

To criticize someone strongly and unfairly in public

is the idiomatic expression focusing on harsh public criticism, not unfair bias

to assault

vsto throw brickbats

29 5.8

To attack someone strongly in speech or writing

is an idiomatic label for harsh public criticism rather than formal combative phrasing

to revile

vsto throw brickbats

Offensive

23 8.2

To say angry, insulting things about someone or something

is focused on public harsh criticism rather than purely angry insult

to scorch

vsto throw brickbats

15 7.3

To severely criticize someone or something

is the idiomatic expression for harsh public criticism rather than moral denunciation

to lambast

vsto throw brickbats

12 8.2

To criticize someone very strongly and angrily

is the idiomatic phrase focusing on public harsh criticism rather than private scolding

to flame

vsto throw brickbats

Offensive

11 7.8

To send angry, insulting messages to someone online

is the general idiom for harsh public criticism beyond electronic contexts

to excoriate

vsto throw brickbats

Literature

9 9.8

To criticize someone or something very harshly in public

is the more general idiomatic expression for harsh public attack

to blister

vsto throw brickbats

9 8.1

To attack someone with very strong words

is the broader idiom naming harsh public verbal attacks in general

to pillory

vsto throw brickbats

7 9.3

To criticize someone publicly to make them feel ashamed

is a more general phrase for harsh public verbal attack

to harangue

vsto throw brickbats

7 8.9

To speak angrily to someone for a long time

is a shorter idiomatic way to note harsh public criticism rather than long speeches

to rake over the coals

vsto throw brickbats

Informal

4 7.9

Scold someone very strongly for a mistake

is an idiomatic public phrase that focuses on harsh criticism rather than formal rebuke

to take potshots at

vsto throw brickbats

Offensive

4 8.1

To make quick, unfair critical remarks about someone or their ideas

is a stronger idiomatic public criticism term rather than casual mockery

to tear into

vsto throw brickbats

Informal

4 7.4

To attack or criticize someone strongly

is the idiomatic phrase for harsh public criticism rather than just energetic attack

to put on blast

vsto throw brickbats

Offensive

3 9.5

Say bad things about someone in public to show others what they did

is the broader label for harsh public criticism without the exposure focus

to upbraid

vsto throw brickbats

Formal

3 8.8

To scold someone strongly for something they did wrong

is the idiomatic expression highlighting harsh public attack rather than private scolding

to lambaste

vsto throw brickbats

1 8.0

To criticize someone or something very strongly in public

is a broader, idiomatic way to name harsh public criticism

to hit out at

vsto throw brickbats

1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

is the idiomatic form that highlights harsh public attack rather than a single strike

to gibbet

vsto throw brickbats

Archaic

1 9.9

To expose someone to public shame or ridicule

is the idiomatic form that covers harsh public criticism broadly

to fulminate against

vsto throw brickbats

Formal

1 9.9

Angrily criticize someone or something

is the idiomatic form for harsh public criticism rather than formal denunciation

to call down

vsto throw brickbats

Informal

1 6.8

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is the idiomatic phrase used for harsh public criticism rather than formal reprimand

to throw dirt

vsto throw brickbats

Informal

1 7.2

Say bad things about someone to harm their reputation

is the idiomatic phrase for harsh public criticism rather than unproven accusation

to pillorize

vsto throw brickbats

9.9

To say bad things about someone in public to make them feel ashamed

is similar but focuses on blunt harsh criticism rather than formal humiliation

to vituperate

vsto throw brickbats

Offensive

9.9

To criticize someone angrily using harsh words

is more about public harsh criticism as an idiomatic phrase rather than abuse tone

to lace into

vsto throw brickbats

NSFW

8.5

Criticize or attack someone strongly

is the broader idiomatic way to describe harsh public verbal attacks

to put the boot in

vsto throw brickbats

9.1

To attack or criticize someone who is already in trouble

is the general idiom for harsh public criticism without insisting on vulnerability

to hit him when he's down

vsto throw brickbats

Informal

8.2

Say mean things to someone when they are already in trouble

is the broader idiomatic term for harsh public criticism regardless of timing

to eat someone's head off

vsto throw brickbats

Informal

9.1

To speak angrily to someone and criticize them

is the idiomatic phrase for harsh public criticism rather than a personal angry outburst

to get on someone's grill

vsto throw brickbats

Slang

9.9

To tell someone angrily that you do not like what they did

is the broader idiomatic label for harsh public criticism rather than direct confrontation

to clapperclaw

vsto throw brickbats

Offensive

9.9

To attack someone with angry words

is the idiomatic expression for harsh public verbal attack rather than word abuse alone

Antonyms

to support

∞ 1.0

Give help to a person or idea

praise

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

How Harsh

to vilify

43 7.9

to throw brickbats

Literature

8.9

to censure

Formal

26 7.7

to criticize

701 3.3

to disapprove

94 2.9

Surface Forms

throw brickbats infinitive

throwing brickbats present participle

throws brickbats third person singular

threw brickbats past

thrown brickbats past participle

Morphology

throw + brickbat

The meaning 'to criticize harshly' is directly derivable from combining 'throw' (to hurl or direct at someone) with 'brickbat' (a cutting verbal criticism): literally to 'hurl criticisms'. This verb + object metaphor is a familiar, compositional pattern (comparable to 'throw stones' or 'throw insults') and is likely predictable to a B1 learner who already knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Throw brickbats comes from the image of angry people literally throwing broken pieces of brick at speakers or public figures to show dislike, because a brickbat was a small, sharp piece of brick used like a weapon. That's why today throw brickbats means 'to criticize or attack someone harshly'.