Throw Someone to the wolves : Phrases, Clichés, Expressions & Sayings

Throw Someone to the wolves

Throw Someone to the wolves : Phrases

Meaning:

Abandon someone; sacrifice someone to save yourself.

Example:

Hitler threw his forces to the wolves by attempting to siege Leningrad in 1942.

Origin:

In the Victorian days, it was popular for printmakers to depict sleighs drawn by horses at full gallop, being chased by packs of wolves. Traditionally, if the wolves got too close, one of the passengers was to be thrown out to lighten the sleigh, in hopes that the rest of the passengers could escape while the animals devoured the victim. Although no one's sure if this really happened, it resulted in a durable metaphor.

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