Throw at / throw to

 

“Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can at it.” 

This quote from entertainer Danny Kaye inspires, in addition to being a perfect example of the phrasal verb “throw at.”

Another phrasal verb “throw to” may seem similar to “throw at” but it is not: 

"Throw at" means to throw something with the intention of hitting something. You throw to hit a target.

Ex: 

• Giannis Antetokounmpo threw the ball at the basket. 
• After a snowfall, children have fun throwing snowballs at each other. 

When “throwing to,” you give something to someone by tossing or hurling it. If I throw something to you, you're probably expecting it. 

Ex: 

• Margaret prefers that Frank hand her the car keys instead of throwing them to her from across the room. 
• Aaron Rogers threw the football to one of his receivers. 

Use the correct preposition for "throw at" and "throw to" and be a better English speaker.