DictionarythrowDeliberate defeat
verb

throw

Deliberately cause a contest to be lost.

The boxer agrees to throw the match in exchange for money.

Etymology

Throw acquired a sporting sense of deliberately giving away a result. The competitor figuratively throws away the chance of winning.

More examples

  • She throws the final round so her friend can win.
  • Investigators discover that the driver threw the race.
  • The league suspends two players for throwing games.

Forms

throw · throws · threw · thrown · throwing

Similar words

tank
Informal; emphasizes deliberately performing poorly to lose a contest.
fix
Arranges a contest's outcome dishonestly, not necessarily by losing.