A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

throw one’s weight • throw one’s weight about
throw one’s weight—(also: swing one’s weight) use one’s influ -
ence and personal power to get smth. done, etc.: I was pre-
pared to throw my weight in Cung’s favor. But he mistrusted
me and rejected my council.
throw one’s weight about—(also: throw one’s weight around)
aggressively assert oneself : She was in here the other day,
throw ing her weight about as if she was Hedy Lamarr and
Katharine Hepburn rolled into one.
throw oneself away on someone • throw oneself on
someone
throw oneself away on someone —ruin one’s life on behalf of
another person (usually a male who doesn’t deserve it): I could
forgive her if she hadn’t thrown herself away on such a cheap
sort of fellow.
throw oneself on someone —(also: throw oneself at someone) 
1
.
physically attack a person: Mulder couldn’t bear the humili-
ation and he kicked out at Fido, throwing himself on the man.
2. (of a woman) make very obvious her desire to begin a
romantic relationship with a man: It wasn’t the first time any
of us saw her throw herself on men she didn’t know.
throw oneself in something • throw oneself on
something • throw oneself to something
throw oneself in something —(also: throw oneself into some-
thing ) 
1
. jump suddenly into the lake, river, etc.: I won’t be
throwing myself in the canal over the collapsed deal. 2. engage
vigorously in an activity: So he slowly began to pull away,
throwing himself in his work in the hopes of making the
inevitable separation easier.
throw oneself on something —
1
. (also: throw oneself down on
something ) lie down suddenly at full length on the bed, etc.:
Miss Flora had thrown herself on a carpet by the bedside. 2.
rely completely on smth. for help, protection, etc.: They are
obliged to throw themselves on the parish for aid.
throw oneself to something — = throw oneself on something 
1
:
He threw himself to the ground as the shells flew overhead.