throw to the wolves

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

throw to the wolves (third-person singular simple present throws to the wolves, present participle throwing to the wolves, simple past threw to the wolves, past participle thrown to the wolves)

1. (idiomatic) To sacrifice someone, especially in an attempt to save oneself.
2. (idiomatic) To remove or cast out someone or something out of one's protection, such as onto the streets, especially towards predators.

• throw to the dogs
• throw to the lions