throw a party

Idioms and Phrases

Put on or hold a social gathering, as in They're throwing a party to introduce their nephew to the neighbors , or She threw a party every Saturday night . [ Colloquial ; first half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

This just became the latest in a series of controversies that had marred his term: the year before, he had fired his son who was employed as his executive secretary after it emerged that he had misused his position to throw a party at a prime ministerial residence.

From BBC

With two new albums involving both styles arriving imminently, he arranged to throw a party, and invited dozens of friends and colleagues to play.

From New York Times

"One of my biggest dreams is to be able to go back and throw a party in Tehran!" she says.

From BBC

Contemplating some anniversary festivities, the siblings realized that with all the crew from over the decades and the legions of devoted patrons, there wasn’t a way to throw a party big enough.

From Seattle Times

Fifteen months after city officials were ready to throw a party in the Noe Valley Town Square to celebrate funding for a tiny bathroom with a toilet and sink, nothing but mulch remains in its place.

From New York Times

Related Words

• dine
• feed
• invite
• regale
• treat
• welcome

More About Throw A Party

What does throw a party mean?

Throw a party means to organize a social gathering. You can throw a party for yourself, as when you invite all your friends over to celebrate the end of the school year. You can also throw a party for someone else as in Charlotte is graduating next week, so her parents are throwing a party for her.

The type of party you throw is up to you. It could be a dinner party, for which you serve a special dinner to your guests. It could be a birthday party featuring cake, balloons, and presents for the birthday person. Your party could have events, like a series of games, or it could just be you and your friends hanging around in your living room, eating snacks and playing video games. If it’s a social event and you’re organizing it, you’re throwing a party.

Example: Kate is throwing a party this weekend, and we are all invited!

Where does throw a party come from?

The first records of the phrase throw a party come from around 1908. It is an American colloquialism that uses the words throw, in the sense of “to organize and host,” and party, meaning “a social gathering.”

Throw a party is used to imply that a social gathering is being planned and is expected to be very fun and exciting.

Did you know … ?

What are some words that share a root or word element with throw a party? 

• throw
• party

What are some words that often get used in discussing throw a party?

• celebrate
• fun
• exciting
• spontaneous

How is throw a party used in real life?

Throw a party is a commonly used phrase that means to organize a social gathering.

do u ever wanna throw a party and realise u don’t have any friends

— Sakshi Shivdasani (@ughshutupsakshi) December 11, 2020

Though I never threw a party in high school, I imagine the panic I’m feeling is like when your mom calls in the am to say they’re coming home a day early and they are almost home.

— Gary Gulman (@GaryGulman) November 4, 2020

Last day of virtual school on Friday, I should throw a party 🎉🥳🍾

— 🖤🤍 (@ArtCBabe) June 9, 2021

Try using throw a party!

True or False?

If someone throws a party for you, it means that they ruined your party.