"Hold a party" - Don't blame Americans for saying you're a hick

[GoodTaste]

This Chinese guy claims to teach most natural English: Don't say "hold/have a party", saying "throw a party" to avoid Americans laughing at you because you sound like a hick.

I used to say "hold a party" and so I am wondering whether it is true that saying "hold a party" would sound less educated like a redneck in the ear of Americans.

The original Chinese text: 美剧英语｜“开派对”还用“hold/have a party”? 别怪老美说你老土
我们开个派对吧. 非常地道的口语表达。. “开”派对不用 have, hold或arrange动词，而是用'throw". throw a party 可以指“举行派对，晚宴，宴会，酒会”.

I've checked out online and found the explanation: throw a party (for someone) Fig.to have a party; to hold a party; to arrange a party. Bill threw a party for his sister before she went away to college. Things seem sort of dull. Let's throw a party.

It looks that the three are exchangeable and all sound natural. I am not very sure.

 

[Tdol]

I'd throw/have a party. I'm not sure about whether you'd sound like a hick, and will leave that to AmE speakers to decide.

 

[Barque]

I think I've heard "A party was held [there]" but I wouldn't say "I held a party". It sounds a little old-fashioned to me. I'd use "threw" or "gave" or "had".

Cross-posted.

 

[Tarheel]

I wouldn't worry about Americans laughing at you. As for "throw a party" that's probably the most common. As for the others, I think they are usually used in the third person. For example: "Bob had a party at his house."

I hope your teacher isn't trying to make you think Americans are rude. (To be sure, some are.)

 

[GoodTaste]

He's not my teacher.

 

[Tarheel]

@GoodTaste OK.

 

[dunchee]

The original Chinese text: 美剧英语 (American TV English)

Party Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

PARTY meaning: 1 : a social event in which entertainment, food, and drinks are provided often used before another noun; 2 : an organization of people who have similar political beliefs and ideas and who work to have their members elected to positions in the government

www.britannica.com

"1 ....
- We are having/giving/throwing a party."

getyarn.io : This web site has clips from TV shows and movies. Type "have a party" in the search box and the results show plenty of valid clips from (current(*1)) American TV shows.

"Hold a party" on the other hand ... I only found a few.

(*1) You can further narrow down the search results by selecting an era from the "Decades" filter on the right.

 

[Skrej]

Don't believe your source. He's completely inaccurate. Say what you want.

I doubt he even really knows what a redneck is if that's his idea of how one speaks.

Not everyone who professess to be an expert on the internet really is an expert, or even knows what they're talking about.