cast/throw the first stone, to

cast the first stone

To be the first to criticize someone or something. OK, fine, I'll cast the first stone—that movie was awful! Alicia cast the first stone, but of course the boss heard me—and only me—complaining about him.See also: cast, first, stone

cast the first stone

Fig. to make the first criticism; to be the first to attack. (From a biblical quotation.) Well, I don't want to be the one to cast the first stone, but she sang horribly. John always casts the first stone. Does he think he's perfect?See also: cast, first, stone

cast the first stone

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. See also: cast, first, stone

cast (or throw) the first stone

be the first to accuse or criticize. The phrase comes from an incident recorded in St John's Gospel. A group of men preparing to stone an adulterous woman to death were addressed by Jesus with the words: ‘He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her’ (John 8:7).See also: cast, first, stone

cast/throw the first stone, to

To be quick to attack someone or something. The term comes from Jesus’ defense of an adulteress against vindictive Pharisees and scribes, who quoted the law of Moses and said she must be stoned. Jesus told them, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (Gospel of St. John, 8:7). The implication that the attacker is equally vulnerable was continued in the modern-day cliché, and spelled out even more in the old proverb, people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.See also: cast, first, throw