Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to throw to the dogs

to throw to the dogs

1 9.1
To give up something important in a careless or disrespectful way
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : tirar a la basura
  • After years of hard work, all her efforts were thrown to the dogs when the company went bankrupt.

Examples

  • It will only be thrown to the dogs.

    Dragon Seed (1944)

  • Dismembered, cut in little pieces and thrown to the dogs.

    Shadows and Fog (1991)

  • He was hurt when his childhood toy was thrown to the dogs without a second thought.

  • It seemed unfair to see such beautiful art thrown to the dogs at the charity auction.

Synonyms

to dump
vsto throw to the dogs
541 2.6

To drop or throw things away in a careless way

involves discarding valuable items in a careless or disrespectful way
to throw away
vsto throw to the dogs
477 1.8

To get rid of something you do not want, for example by putting it in the bin

involves discarding valuable items in a careless or disrespectful way
to throw out
vsto throw to the dogs
202 1.8

To put something in the trash because you do not want it

implies discarding valuable items with careless or disrespectful attitude
to discard
vsto throw to the dogs
130 2.7

To throw something away because you no longer want or need it

means removing unwanted items rather than abandoning valued things disrespectfully
to toss out
vsto throw to the dogs
39 2.7

To throw away things you do not want

stresses abandoning valued things in a disrespectful or careless manner
to kick to the curb
vsto throw to the dogs
  • Informal
7 8.6

Get rid of someone or something you no longer want

focuses on abandoning things that are valuable and treated disrespectfully
to toss away
vsto throw to the dogs
5 2.0

To throw something away because you no longer want or need it

implies abandoning valuable items with careless disrespect rather than simple disposal

Antonyms

to preserve
496 3.4

To keep people and things safe from harm or change

to treasure
76 2.9

To value someone or something a lot

How Careless

to throw to the dogs
  • Informal
1 9.1
to abandon
773 3.1
neglect
100 3.5
to protect
∞ 1.0
to keep safe
9 1.8

Surface Forms

throw to the dogs infinitive
throwing to the dogs present participle
throws to the dogs third person singular
threw to the dogs past
thrown to the dogs past participle

Morphology

throw + to + the + dogs

The literal image of 'throw' + 'to the dogs' readily evokes discarding or giving something away to dogs, so a learner who knows the words could infer a basic sense of abandonment or waste. However, the idiomatic extension (abandoning something valuable in a careless or disrespectful way, or condemning it to ruin) and its pragmatic flavors are metaphorical and not fully predictable, so it is not fully transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Throw to the dogs may come from the image of literally throwing something useful to hungry dogs, which would tear it apart and waste it. So it now means 'to discard' or 'abandon' something valuable in a careless or disrespectful way.