throw to the wolves

T

feed, leave, or throw to the wolves, dogs, or lions

Meaning

• allow somebody else to be criticized or attacked, often in order to protect one.
• to sacrifice someone to save the rest.
• to abandon someone to harm.
• sacrifice someone, especially so as to save oneself.

Example Sentences

1. Don’t try to throw my brother to the wolves. I’ll tell you the facts about the entire issue.
2. When I got to know that he is a serial killer with whom I am dealing, I felt I’d been thrown to the wolves.
3. If Jessica doesn’t achieve what her boss expects, he’ll throw her to the dogs.

Origin

The first term comes from Aesop’s fable about a nurse who threatens to throw her charge to the wolves if the child does not behave. [First half of the 1900s]

Animal, Dog, Lion, Wolf