cast the first stone






cast 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)


Related Idioms :


be cast in a mould

be of the type specified.

1991 - Jean - Bow Jane's Journey - He was certainly not cast in a common mould. She had never met anyone like him before.



cast someone adrift

Leave someone in a boat or other craft which has nothing to secure or guide it.

Abandon or isolate someone.

1998 Oldie : The various dissenting movements should be cut adrift and left to their own devices.



cast your bread upon the waters

do good without expecting gratitude or immediate reward.

This expression comes from Ecclesiastes 11 : 1 - Cast thy bread upon the waters : for thou shalt find it after many days.



cast something in his teeth

reject defiantly or refer reproachfully to a person's previous action or statement.




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