throw to the dogs

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

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)

1. (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.

2. (idiomatic) To remove or cast out someone or something from one's protection, such as into the streets.
3. (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.

See also

• dog bone
• throw to the wolves