jump down someone's throat

English

WOTD – 19 September 2011

Alternative forms

• climb down someone's throat
• leap down someone's throat

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

jump down someone's throat (third-person singular simple present jumps down someone's throat, present participle jumping down someone's throat, simple past and past participle jumped down someone's throat)

1. (idiomatic) To criticise with excessive and unexpected harshness.

   Try to remember next time, but don’t fret — I won’t jump down your throat if you forget.

   • 2006, Larry Rice, The Complete Guide to Divorce Practice: Forms and Procedures for the Lawyer, 3rd edition, page 266:

     Opposing counsel has a right to question you, and if you respond with smart talk or give evasive answers, opposing counsel may jump down your throat.

   • 2007, Michael Bennett, Bent, page 103:

     ‘Thanks, Jean,’ he said. ‘Mike I'm sorry. I didn't mean to jump down your throat. Thanks for the advice. I will be careful.’

   • 2009, Shiela Stewart, Embracing the Darkness: Darkness Series, Book 3, page 59:

     “I'm sorry I jumped on you — jumped down your throat,” he amended, feeling like a complete idiot.

Translations

criticise with excessive and unexpected harshness

• Bulgarian: нахвърлям се (nahvǎrljam se)
• Finnish: hyökätä jonkun kimppuun
• German: anschnauzen (de)
• Polish: skakać sobie do gardeł
• Russian: (somewhat, colloquial) затыка́ть рот (zatykátʹ rot), (somewhat) не дава́ть слова сказа́ть (ne davátʹ slova skazátʹ)
• Spanish: echársele encima a alguien, arremeter contra alguien
• Swedish: hoppa på någon

See also

• at each other's throats