Meaning & use
throwing dimes
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiomslanginformal
In sports slang, making a series of very accurate, quick passes, especially in basketball or American football.
Grammar: Used as a verb phrase; it describes the action, not a person: 'He was throwing dimes all night.'
Patterns
- throw dimes
- be throwing dimes
The point guard was throwing dimes all game, setting up easy baskets for his teammates.
Fans chanted his name after he kept throwing dimes under pressure.
In the highlight reel, the quarterback is throwing dimes into tight coverage.
phraseidiominformalhumorous
Informal, often humorous use meaning spending money freely or carelessly.
Grammar: Often used with 'around' or 'like': 'throwing dimes around' means spending without worry.
Patterns
- throw dimes around
- be throwing dimes
After his bonus, he was throwing dimes around like they were nothing.
She's not throwing dimes at designer bags anymore now that she's saving for a house.
They were throwing dimes at the casino all weekend and came home broke.
Common combinations
- throwing dimes all game
- The rookie was throwing dimes all game and finished with twelve assists.
- throwing dimes under pressure
- Great quarterbacks are known for throwing dimes under pressure.
- throwing dimes around
- He was throwing dimes around at the club like he'd won the lottery.
- keep throwing dimes
- The coach told him to keep throwing dimes and trust his receivers.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: throwing dimes or dime?
throwing dimes vs dime
'Dime' is a ten-cent coin; 'throwing dimes' as slang has nothing to do with actual money in its sports sense.
Practice
In sports slang, what does it mean if a player is 'throwing dimes'?
Choose one answer.
In sports, 'throwing dimes' means making accurate passes, especially assists. The money meaning exists but is not the sports sense, so option 0 is a different, less common use.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “throwing dimes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.