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]

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.