throw to the dogs
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Verb
[edit]throw to the dogs (third-person singular simple present throws to the dogs, present participle throwing to the dogs, simple past threw to the dogs, past participle thrown to the dogs)
- (idiomatic) To throw away as useless.
- c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
- Throw physic to the dogs; I'll none of it.
- (idiomatic) To remove or cast out someone or something from one's protection, such as into the streets.
- (idiomatic) To give up on something valuable.
- 1945, Karl E. Ettinger, Public Relations Directory and Yearbook,, page 45:
- Let's hope it will not throw "to the dogs" its new-found opportunity for winning back public favor and respect.