casts the first stone
Initiates the conflict
To cast the first stone is to be the first to criticize or condemn someone, especially when one is not blameless oneself.
The phrase comes from the Gospel of John, where Jesus challenges a crowd ready to stone an adulteress: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone." It usually appears in the negative: I'm not one to cast the first stone, Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
- sanctimonyFeigned moral superiority
- holier than thouSmugly morally superior
- moral high groundPerceived position of righteousness
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- without sinLacking moral fault
hypocrisy · condemnation · pointing fingers · accusation · blame · throw shade · tolerance · grace · double standards · censure · self-deception · denouncement · acceptance · pretense · arrogance · insincerity · rebuke · sin
casts the first stonepardons
Official forgiveness of crimes
absolves · looks the other way · forgives · forgives and forgets · buries the hatchet
casts the first stoneholds one's peace
Remains deliberately silent
bites one's tongue · walks away · lets sleeping dogs lie · de-escalates · keeps the peace
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