To cast the first stone

Definitions

• discourage someone
  Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

• hypocritical judgment
  Point out that the person criticizing someone else has flaws or has made mistakes themselves

Examples of To cast the first stone

• Sarah caught her husband in a lie and eagerly awaited the opportunity to confront his mistress. However, she soon realized that she too had made mistakes in her past, and now she hesitated. Mark 8:7 states, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." Sarah didn't want to be the one to judge and condemn. She had to remember that everyone makes mistakes and deserves forgiveness. In the end, Sarah chose to keep her husband's secret and work on her own shortcomings instead of pointing fingers.

  The idiom "to cast the first stone" refers to being the first to judge and condemn someone else for their mistakes. The phrase comes from the Bible, John 8:7, where Jesus tells a crowd to let the one without sin throw the first stone at a woman caught in adultery. This idiom is often used to remind people that they should avoid being too quick to judge or criticize others, as everyone has flaws and makes mistakes. It highlights the importance of forgiveness, empathy, and humility.

• As the lead detective investigated the case, she became increasingly frustrated with the suspect's alibi. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was lying. But as she delved deeper into the evidence, she began to realize that she too had jumped to conclusions in the past. She remembered the many times she had cast the first stone, judging others without proper evidence. She knew she couldn't afford to make that mistake again. The detective took a deep breath and approached the suspect with a new perspective, eager to listen to his side of the story.

  The idiom "to cast the first stone" is used in a variety of contexts, but in this example, it highlights the importance of being cautious with our assumptions and judgments. The detective's past mistakes had taught her a valuable lesson: that everyone deserves a fair chance and proper evidence before being judged. This lesson served her well as she cautiously approached the suspect with an open mind, ready to hear his side of the story. It served as a reminder that the first stone should not be cast lightly, as it may harm more than just the target.

• The headmaster of the college was dismayed when he received a tip-off about a student cheating during an exam. He felt an overwhelming urge to punish the student severely. However, he knew that he too had made mistakes in his past. He remembered a time when he had jumped to conclusions without proper evidence, and the harm it caused. He took a deep breath and decided to investigate the matter thoroughly before taking any action. The student was duly punished for his offence, but the punishment was fair and fitting, as opposed to being excessive or overly harsh.

  The idiom "to cast the first stone" serves as a reminder to be cautious and fair-minded when making judgments. The headmaster's past experience had taught him that hasty judgments and harsh punishments could do more harm than good. Instead, he chose to approach the situation with a level head, investigate the matter thoroughly, and punish the student fairly. This approach earned him respect from the student body as well as the trust of his faculty, demonstrating the importance of fairness, understanding, and empathy.

• Jane had just moved to a new town and was trying to fit in with the locals. She noticed that some of the churchgoers were gossiping about a new family in town. When Jane confronted them, she heard one of them say, "Well, we can't judge them until we know all the facts. After all, who among us hasn't made mistakes? Let's not cast the first stone."

  This idiom means to be quick to criticize or judge someone else without acknowledging our own faults. In this example, the speaker is reminding the others that before they judge the new family, they should consider their own shortcomings. Jane learned an important lesson here: to avoid hypocrisy, she should first examine her own actions before casting judgment on others.

• The senator was being accused of accepting bribes from a foreign government. In response, he said, "I may have made some mistakes in my past, but let's not cast the first stone. After all, I'm being accused of a serious crime, and I deserve a fair trial before I'm found guilty."

  Here, the speaker is reminding his accusers that before they accuse him of wrongdoing, they should consider that he may be innocent until proven guilty. By asking them not to cast the first stone, he's urging them to withhold judgment until the evidence is presented.

• The team captain was giving a speech before their game against their biggest rival. He said, "We all know that this is going to be a tough game, and we're going to face a lot of pressure. But let's not cast the first stone. We've trained hard for this, and we've got a chance to win. Let's focus on our own performance, and not worry too much about what our opponent is doing."

  Here, the speaker is reminding his team that before they start criticizing their opponent, they should consider that their performance is equally important. By asking them not to cast the first stone, he's urging them to focus on their own game, rather than getting distracted by what their opponent is doing.

• The manager was addressing the staffers about a new policy. She said, "I know that some of you may have concerns about this policy, but let's not cast the first stone. Before we criticize it, let's consider whether it's going to achieve our goals. Let's focus on finding a better solution, rather than just finding faults with the existing one."

  In this example, the speaker is reminding her staffers that before they criticize the new policy, they should consider whether it's going to be effective. By asking them not to cast the first stone, she's urging them to think creatively and find a better solution, rather than just finding faults with the policy.

• John accused Jane of stealing his wallet, but when the police investigated, they found that John himself had misplaced it. When Jane confronted John about his false accusation, he responded, "Well, who are you to cast the first stone? Maybe you're the one who did it after all."

  This is an example of the idiom "to cast the first stone" being used in a scenario where someone is being accused of something that they may or may not have done. The idiom indicates that the person who is accusing others of wrongdoing should be careful not to make assumptions or jump to conclusions, as they may also be responsible for the same action. In this case, John accused Jane of stealing his wallet, but when it was discovered that he had lost it himself, he used the idiom to deflect blame from himself and imply that Jane may have also been responsible.

Conclusion

The idiom "to cast the first stone" is used to discourage someone from doing something or to highlight the hypocrisy of someone passing judgment. It can be used to caution against a particular action or to remind someone that they are not perfect and have no right to criticize others.

Origin of "To cast the first stone"

The origin of the idiom "to cast the first stone" comes from a biblical story in which Jesus encounters a group of people who are about to stone a woman caught in adultery. He tells them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." This story is found in the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Bible. The idiom has since been used to remind people not to judge others when they themselves are not perfect. It serves as a cautionary tale about hypocrisy and the dangers of passing judgment without considering one's own flaws. The idiom has become a common phrase in English to discourage criticism or to point out the imperfections of those who are quick to judge others.