Don’t Be Throwin’ Stones
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "Don’t be throwin’ stones" is a Bible-rooted saying meaning don’t judge or criticize others harshly. It’s the local, shortened version of the older proverb "People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones," echoing the biblical "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
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Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Don’t be throwin’ stones' is one I've heard and said all my life. Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Don’t be throwin’ stones' is one I've heard and said all my life. Pronunciation
[DONT bee THROW-in STONES]
Meaning & Usage
- To warn against judging others (verb phrase/proverb)
Mae:
She’s always talkin’ about other folks’ kids.
She’s always talkin’ about other folks’ kids.
Earl:
She oughta know better - don’t be throwin’ stones.
She oughta know better - don’t be throwin’ stones.- To caution humility before criticism (verb phrase/proverb)
Mae:
That preacher sure went long today.
That preacher sure went long today.
Earl:
Don’t be throwin’ stones - you were late yourself.
Don’t be throwin’ stones - you were late yourself.variations: don’t cast stones
★ This expression comes straight from the Bible but in Southern mouths it became a casual warning. "Don’t be throwin’ stones" blends folk speech with church teaching, making it a distinct regional way to say "don’t judge." ★
Origin and Etymology
From John 8:7: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." While "People who live in glass houses"" is an old English proverb, the Southern version took the biblical imagery and shortened it to "don’t be throwin’ stones," especially in rural church communities.
Usage Notes
Still heard in Southern/Appalachian speech as an admonition about gossip and judgment. Outside the South people usually say "don’t throw stones" or quote the proverb about glass houses.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "don’t be throwin’ stones." Sometimes "don’t cast stones."
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 5). Don’t Be Throwing Stones. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/dont-be-throwin-stones
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Don’t Be Throwing Stones." HillbillySlang.com, 5 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/dont-be-throwin-stones.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Don’t Be Throwing Stones." HillbillySlang.com. October 5, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/dont-be-throwin-stones.
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