throw back — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To hinder the development of something.

   Usage

   • Transitive

2. To revert to an earlier stage of development.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   The Century A large proportion of the steerage passengers throw back to their Darwinian ancestry.

3. To retort.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   She jumped to her feet and began stalking away. “Going to cost me fifteen dollars to clean this outfit,” she threw back over her shoulder.

4. To drink quickly, especially alcoholic beverages.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   toss off

   Examples

   We threw back drinks until the next morning.

   “He and I used to throw back beers every now and then when I was with the Bureau.” Shaw grinned arrogantly.

5. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see throw, back.

   Related words

   throwback

   Examples

   I threw back my head and laughed uproariously.

   We caught several fish in the river but threw them back.

   More examples (1)

   We all raised our glasses, threw them back. I was getting better, but I still felt the alcohol harder than Stephen ever had.

Verb

1. throw back with a quick, light motion

   Synonyms

   toss back

   Broader terms

   fliptossskypitch

   Examples

   She tossed back her head