throw shade

idiomatic phrase

informal

: to publicly express contempt or disrespect for someone or something especially in an indirect or subtle way : criticize

… answered a question to the media that seemed to throw shade at his former teammate …

—Farbod Esnaashari

… was accused of throwing shade at the singer in a now-deleted TikTok [video].

—Leyla Mohammed

When the vendor typed "excuse me," my friend assumed the vendor was throwing major shade his way …

—Jennifer Silverman

… haters took to the comment section and threw major shade at the star …

—Julia Teti

Word History

First Known Use

1993, in the meaning defined above