cast the first stone

Idioms  

1. Also, throw the first stone. Be quick to blame, criticize, or punish, as in She's always criticizing her colleagues, casting the first stone no matter what the circumstances. The term comes from the New Testament (John 8:7), where Jesus defends an adulteress against those who would stone her, saying “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Also see people who live in glass houses; pot calling the kettle black.

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Example Sentences

Let he who is without stomach-turning sycophancy cast the first stone.

From Slate • Jan. 21, 2025

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," he added.

From Reuters • Apr. 24, 2022

How the enemy can tear down our community and rewrite the history by highlighting our flaws.But let he who cast the first stone, who constitutes the new laws.Nah,

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2016

But to anyone who has felt they had to defend their life choices, I had cast the first stone.

From Salon • Feb. 3, 2013

Hofmann, Plate 91, depicts the scene most graphically, at the moment when Jesus says, "Let him that is without sin cast the first stone."

From The Great Painters' Gospel Pictures Representing Scenes and Incidents in the Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bailey, Henry Turner