throws to the wolves
Offers up scapegoat
To throw someone to the wolves is to abandon them to hostile forces or harsh criticism, often to protect oneself.
The phrase suggests sacrificing another person rather than defending them: When the scandal broke, the company threw their spokesperson to the wolves.
It implies betrayal—letting someone face attackers alone when you could have intervened.
- self-interestConcern for personal advantage
- sell outBetray one's values
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
- perilSerious threat of harm
defenselessness · self-protection · every man for himself · exposure · forsake · treachery · backstab · betrayal · stab in the back · disloyalty · hung out to dry · expediency · pragmatism · desertion · cut loose · left for dead · fed to the lions · sacrifice
throws to the wolvesprotects
Defends from threat
shields · defends · stands up for · has someone's back · shelters
throws to the wolvesstands by
Supports or awaits action
sticks by · backs up · supports · stands with · champions
throws to the wolvesfalls on one's sword
Accept responsibility, often resigningly
throw, throws, threw, thrown, throwing, thrower, throwers, wolves, wolfish