to throw one's weight behind
3
6.6
- phrasal verb
:
apoyar
- To be sure, none of this guarantees that the EPA will exploit the existing political opening and throw its weight behind fundamental reform.
Examples
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More recently, labor threw its weight behind the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank financial-reform law.
Blog text (1) -
At the meeting, the senator decided to throw his weight behind the new education reform bill to ensure its passage.
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At Defenders of Wildlife, we're ready to throw all our weight behind this effort.
Blog text (30) -
Japan and the United States later threw their weight behind the proposal.
Academic text (1998) -
Earlier this year, the Federal Railroad Administration and a Canadian federal agency, Transport Canada, signed agreements that throw their weight and expertise behind the program.
Academic text (2007) -
Last year, the state and city teachers' unions threw their political weight behind the ban on linking teacher tenure to student achievement.
Blog text (9) -
If Golkar instead throws its weight behind Megawati, he will be hard-pressed to build enough support from Islamic parties to prevail.
Academic text (2004) -
Since the cartoon saga ended, Hlayhel has thrown his weight behind the construction of a large new mosque inside Gellerup, a project he had previously opposed.
Academic text (2007) -
Rev. Francis W. B. Thompson, Anglican Bishop of Accra, even strongly urged Christians to "throw their full weight behind the government in its effort to reorganize the social and moral lives of Ghanaians."
Academic text (1995) -
In 2010, the Tennessee Conservative Union backed Mr. Davis, an anti-abortion, low-tax Democrat, but Mr. Daugherty said it was highly unlikely the group would throw its weight behind Eric Stewart, a middle school principal and DesJarlais's current Democratic opponent.
Blog text (28)
Synonyms
932
1.0
To support someone or something
59
4.3
To support someone when others criticize or attack them
39
3.1
To support one side in an argument
23
4.2
Support someone in a competition or hard situation
1
3.9
Support and defend other people who share a cause
Begin to strongly defend a person or cause in public
Antonyms
How Supportive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase uses a clear physical metaphor — 'throw' + 'weight' + 'behind' — to mean placing or applying one's influence in support; if a learner knows 'weight' can mean importance/influence, 'throw' as apply/move and 'behind' as supporting/backing, they have strong cues. However, this is a metaphorical extension rather than a literal composition, so the exact communicative meaning is somewhat idiomatic and may not be fully predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
Throw one's weight behind comes from the image of a person using their body to push something forward: they put their weight behind it to help it move. That's why it means 'to use your influence or authority to support someone or something'.