1
general::
1. Hinder the progress of, check, as in His illness threw his schooling back a year, or The troops were thrown back by a barrage of fire. [First half of 1800s] 2. Revert to an earlier type or stage, as in That dog throws back to his wolf ancestors. This usage gave rise to the noun throwback, a reversion to a former stage or type. [Second half of 1800s] 3. throw back on. Cause to depend on, make reliant on, as in When the violinist didn't show up, they were thrown back on the pianist. [Mid-1800s]
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): throw something back
Sl. to eat or drink something quickly. • He threw a beer back and got up and left. • She threw back a beer., Phrase(s): throw someone or something back
to return someone or something by tossing. • The sailor climbed out of the water into the boat, and his mates grabbed him and threw him back. That was their idea of fun. • Karen threw back the undersize fish.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs