throw [OE] A word which at first meant ‘to twist’ or ‘to turn’, and is related to *thread. The sense ‘to give a party’, dating from the 1920s, probably came from the meaning ‘to perform a leap or somersault’, whereas the idea of ‘throwing’ a game or match [M19th] is likely to be short for throw away. When you withdraw from a contest you throw your hand in [L19th]. The idea here is of a player in a card game throwing their hand down on the table as a signal that they are withdrawing from the game. The origins of throw in the towel or throw in the sponge lie in the boxing ring. Boxers or their trainers traditionally signal that they are conceding defeat by throwing the towel or sponge used to wipe the contestant’s face into the middle of the ring. The earliest version of the phrase is throw up the sponge, dating from the 1860s. The idea that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones, dates from the 17th century. See also baby.