overthrow

Everyday

1. To overthrow a ruler or government is to remove them from power by force. tree →
2. The overthrow of a ruler is that removal. tree →
3. (sport, cricket and baseball) To overthrow is to throw a ball too far, past the player meant to catch it; in cricket, an overthrow can give extra runs. tree →
4. To overthrow a city or building is to destroy it by force, knocking it down. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons it tells of kings and governments losing power in revolutions. In stories it shows rebels and heroes fighting a tyrant. In cricket it is a fielding mistake.

Examples

• The people overthrew the cruel king. tree →
• The rebels planned the overthrow of the tyrant. tree →
• In the story, the mice overthrew the cat's rule. tree →
• The army was overthrown in a single night. tree →
• An overthrow gave the batting team four extra runs. tree →
• The shortstop overthrew first base. tree →
• Many emperors were overthrown in history. tree →
• They wanted to overthrow the government. tree →
• The five soldiers grumbled a little, and muttered that it was their business to overthrow cities, not to build them up. tree →

Note

Irregular like «throw»: overthrow, overthrew, overthrown. Do not confuse with «throw over». In cricket maths, overthrow runs are added to the runs already taken.

In Jewish tradition

To destroy a place or its enemies, especially by God's act, as with Sodom and Gomorrah.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the overthrow of the cities as punishment for their cruelty, and Lot's small town is spared at his request.

Examples

• and He overthrow those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. (Torah GEN.19.25, JPS 1917) tree →
• And in the greatness of Thine excellency Thou overthrowest them that rise up against Thee; Thou sendest forth Thy wrath, it consumeth them as stubble. (Torah EXO.15.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he said unto him: 'See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken. (Torah GEN.19.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• Therefore He swore concerning them, that He would overthrow them in the wilderness; (Writings PSA.106.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• The Righteous One considereth the house of the wicked; overthrowing the wicked to their ruin. (Writings PRO.21.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein. (Prophets JER.49.18, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Irregular like «throw»: overthrow, overthrew, overthrown. Do not confuse with «throw over». In cricket maths, overthrow runs are added to the runs already taken.