to lose a fight or competition but not be completely defeated and therefore be able to try again in the future.

The anti-pollution campaigners lost the debate but lived to fight another day.

• throw off the scent
• throw on
• throw on mercy
• throw on someone's mercy
• throw on something
• throw on the scrap heap
• throw open something to
• throw open something to someone
• throw open something to something
• throw open to
• throw open to someone
• throw open to something
• throw out
• throw out something
• throw out the baby with the bath water
• throw someone a curve
• throw someone a curve ball
• throw someone for a loop
• throw someone in at the deep end
• throw someone into a spin
• throw someone into a tizz
• throw someone into a tizzy
• throw someone off balance
• throw someone off the scent
• throw someone on the scrap heap