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Overthrow vs Underthrow - What's the difference?

overthrow | underthrow |

Underthrow is a related term of overthrow.



As verbs the difference between overthrow and underthrow

is that overthrow is to throw down to the ground, to overturn while underthrow is to throw a pass that falls short of the receiver. May take either the thrown pass or the receiver as its direct object.

As a noun overthrow

is a removal, especially of a ruler or government, by force or threat of force.

overthrow

English

Etymology 1

From .

Verb

  • To throw down to the ground, to overturn.
  • * 1526 , William Tyndale, trans. Bible , John II:
    • And he made a scourge of smale cordes, and drave them all out off the temple, bothe shepe and oxen, and powred doune the changers money, and overthrue their tables.
  • * Jeremy Taylor
    • His wife overthrew the table.
  • To bring about the downfall of (a government, etc.), especially by force.
    • I hate the current government, but not enough to want to overthrow them.
  • * Dryden
    • When the walls of Thebes he overthrew .
  • * Shakespeare
    • [Gloucester] that seeks to overthrow religion.
    Derived terms
    * overthrowal

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A removal, especially of a ruler or government, by force or threat of force.
  • *
    • What then must we do? Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race!
    Hypernyms
    * (removal by force) downfall
    Coordinate terms
    * (removal by force) collapse

    Etymology 2

    Verb

  • (intransitive) To throw (something) so that it goes too far.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (sports) A throw that goes too far.
    • He overthrew first base, for an error.
  • (cricket) A run scored by the batting side when a fielder throws the ball back to the infield, whence it continues to the opposite outfield.

    • Quotations

    * * (seeCites)

    underthrow

    English

    Verb

  • To throw a pass that falls short of the receiver.
  • *{{quote-news, 1960, December 27, Joseph M. Sheehan, Eagles Win, 17-13, To Take Pro Title, The New York Times citation
    • , passage=The underthrown pass was knocked down.}}
  • *{{quote-news, 2008, December 26, Joshua Robinson, Jets Say Third Down Is Their Priority, The New York Times citation
    • , passage=During the Jets’ recent 1-3 slide, Favre has repeatedly missed and underthrown receivers on his way to a single touchdown pass and six interceptions.}}

    Related terms

    *overthrow