throw someone to the wolves
throw (one) to the wolves
To put one in the position to be the recipient of blame, trouble, or criticism, often that which was intended for oneself. Tommy was caught with the marijuana in his backpack, but he threw me to the wolves and said it was mine. Our manager never hesitates to throw an underling to the wolves when something goes wrong in the office.
See also: throw, wolves
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
throw someone to the wolves
If someone throws you to the wolves, they allow you to be criticized severely or treated badly, and they do not try to protect you. Being released into the general prison population was like being thrown to the wolves. Suddenly, aged 23, he was thrown to the wolves, and made to answer very personal and deeply insulting questions by a pack of journalists. Compare with throw someone to the lions.
See also: someone, throw, wolves
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
throw someone to the wolves
leave someone to be roughly treated or criticized without trying to help or defend them. informalThis phrase probably arose in reference to tales about packs of wolves pursuing travellers in horse-drawn sleighs, in which one person was pushed off the sleigh to allow it to go faster, so enabling the others to make their escape.
1958 Listener This able and agreeable doctor was thrown to the wolves by a Prime Minister who had good reason to know that his own position was desperate.
See also: someone, throw, wolves
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- keep (someone or something) in sight
- keep in sight
- keep sight of
- keep sight of (someone or something)
- keep sight of somebody/something
- put (oneself) at (one's) ease
- wash hands of
- wash one's hands of
- wash your hands of
- wash your hands of somebody/something