throw a curse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "throw a curse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts involving magic, folklore, or expressions of anger or frustration where someone wishes ill upon another. Example: "In the story, the witch decided to throw a curse on the village for their betrayal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

One of the things I did learn from the veterans on "One Life to Live" was that if you didn't like your take, you didn't like the way it was going, in the middle of a take you could throw a curse word out, and then they definitely couldn't use it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Holden's famous idiom, which throws a curse over almost the whole of existence and casually thrusts even the youngest and most innocent like "old Phoebe" and "old Stradlater" into their dotage, is as much or more that of the barracks as of the dormitory, the ideal medium for a war veteran who has found a way to impart the real quality of his experience.

The New York Times - Books

She tells us that she is genetically susceptible - her mother's depression threw a silent curse over her childhood.

The Guardian - Books

Now, he was going to curse, throw a helmet or blame a teammate for the whole thing.

The New York Times

"It's hard to follow Tina and Amy, who were brilliant," she added, throwing in a curse word to describe Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, the most recent Golden Globes hosts.

The New York Times

If you want to curse at someone, you throw an offensive, dirty, and nothing-worse-in-the-world word at them that simply means "Vagina".

Huffington Post

An investigation by the university confirmed that Coach Knight had abusive arguments or physical altercations with colleagues and subordinates, once grabbed a player's neck while berating him and intimidated an elderly secretary by cursing and throwing a vase at a wall near her.

The New York Times

At 15, watching a wrestler she had a crush on going down to defeat, she cursed his opponent, threw a chair at him and jumped into the ring and did her best to beat him up before the police carted her off to jail.

The New York Times

We jockey for position, jostle for rebounds, pat backs, throw elbows, curse, reassure, shout out the midgame scores, 6-3, 4-2, 1-1, that will lose every whiff of urgency once one team scores a seventh basket — all in the very space where generations were baptized, married, eulogized and sent to their final reward.

The New York Times - Sports

Don't shout, throw things, curse, or become violent.

WikiHow

His son Andrei threw a pine cone and shouted, "Grenade!" Women hiding behind trees screamed curses and abuse.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "throw a curse", consider the context and audience. It can be suitable for fictional narratives or discussions of folklore, but may be inappropriate in formal or sensitive settings.

Common error

Avoid using "throw a curse" lightly, as it implies a deliberate act of wishing harm upon someone or something. Choose a milder expression if you only intend to express disappointment or mild annoyance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "throw a curse" functions as a verb phrase that describes the act of inflicting or attempting to inflict harm or misfortune through supernatural means or strong negative intent. It typically involves a subject (the one doing the throwing) and an implied object (the recipient of the curse). Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "throw a curse" is a verb phrase signifying the act of wishing or inflicting harm upon someone or something, as validated by Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct, its usage is relatively rare, predominantly appearing in news and media contexts. The phrase serves to express negative intent or describe actions in narrative settings. When choosing to use "throw a curse", consider its potentially dramatic tone and ensure it aligns with the intended message. Alternatives like "place a curse" or "curse someone" offer similar meanings with varying levels of formality and intensity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

place a curse

Similar to "throw a curse", this option is a more formal and direct way of saying someone is cursed.

curse someone

This is a simplified version, focusing on the action of cursing directly.

cast a spell

This alternative implies a magical action intended to cause harm or misfortune, similar to "throw a curse" but with a stronger supernatural connotation.

invoke a hex

This alternative suggests calling upon a malevolent force or spirit to bring about negative outcomes.

hex someone

A more direct and informal way of saying someone is cursed.

lay a jinx

This alternative means to put a spell on someone, bringing them bad luck or misfortune.

imprecate a curse

This alternative means to utter a curse, often with strong emotion or force.

damn someone

This alternative implies wishing eternal punishment or misfortune upon someone.

call down a plague

This alternative suggests invoking a widespread calamity or disaster as a form of punishment.

anathematize someone

This is a formal and religious term for excommunicating or condemning someone.

FAQs

How can I use "throw a curse" in a sentence?

You can use "throw a curse" to describe an act of wishing harm upon someone or something, often in a magical or metaphorical sense. For example: "The witch threatened to throw a curse on anyone who entered her forest."

What does it mean to "cast a spell" and how is it different than to "throw a curse"?

"Cast a spell" generally refers to any magical act, while "throw a curse" specifically implies an intention to cause harm or misfortune. All curses are spells, but not all spells are curses.

What are some alternatives to "throw a curse"?

Alternatives include "place a curse", "curse someone", or "lay a jinx", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "throw a curse" a formal or informal expression?

"Throw a curse" leans towards being an informal expression, often used in storytelling or casual conversation. More formal alternatives might include "invoke a hex" or "place a curse" in specific contexts.