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Glite Dictionary
to throw one's weight around

to throw one's weight around

5 7.5
To use your power to make others do what you want
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : imponer su peso
  • She tends to throw her weight around at the office, making decisions without consulting her team.
  • start throwing one's weight around

Examples

  • I think he's taking advantage of this opportunity to throw his weight around.

    Giant from the Unknown (1958)

  • Can't have management throwing their weight around, can we?

    Virgin Alexander (2012)

  • Well, because, I mean, you know, he came in, he immediately started throwing his weight around.

    Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025)

  • But now it's harder for them to throw their weight around.

    Blog text (19)

  • Big boy rides in out of nowhere, throwing his weight around.

    Stone Cold (1991)

  • Ever since Brett Chaney bought the bank,... well, you know how he likes to throw his weight around.

    Midnight Stallion (2013)

  • Even if you're who you say you are, you don't come in here and start throwing your weight around.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • But once the Lords are elected, they might be more tempted to throw their weight around and claim their own legitimacy.

    Blog text (28)

  • The BIG (Big Intrusive Government) guys have been throwing their weight around, creating lots of dissatisfaction.

    Blog text (31)

  • They didn't usually mix with Anglos, but they liked us OK because Blanche didn't throw her weight around.

    Fiction book (1994)

Synonyms

to push around
vsto throw one's weight around
  • Informal
66 5.6

To treat someone in a bossy way so they do what you want

uses position or influence to dominate others aggressively
to play hardball
vsto throw one's weight around
  • Informal
26 7.0

Act aggressively to get what you want when you compete with others

uses formal authority to dominate others rather than competitive ruthlessness
to strong-arm
vsto throw one's weight around
  • NSFW
15 7.5

To force someone to do something by threats or violence

uses influence or status rather than physical force to control
to shove down someone's throat
vsto throw one's weight around
  • Informal
2 9.1

Force someone to accept an idea they do not want

uses position or influence to impose views rather than press ideas

Antonyms

to stay humble
1 3.6

Keep being modest and not become proud when you do well

How Domineering

to domineer
2 8.8
to throw one's weight around
  • Informal
5 7.5

Surface Forms

throw one's weight around infinitive
throwing one's weight around present participle
throws one's weight around third person singular
threw one's weight around past
thrown one's weight around past participle

Morphology

throw + one + weight + around

The components 'throw' + 'around' together with 'weight' (understood as significance or influence) point toward using one’s importance forcefully, so a learner who knows the literal words can often infer a related meaning. However the sense is metaphorical and depends on recognizing 'weight' as influence and the idiomatic phrasal pattern, which is not fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

Throw one's weight around comes from the picture of a heavy person literally throwing their weight to shove people or things out of the way; the image makes you think of using physical force to move others. That's why it now means 'to use your power or position in a bossy way'.