throw in the towel
/ˌθrəʊ ɪn ðə ˈtaʊəl/INFORMAL · C2
Meaning
to stop trying because you know you cannot succeed
Examples
- 1After six hours stuck on the last puzzle, Ben finally threw in the towel and checked the answers.
- 2Don't throw in the towel yet — you've still got two more chances to pass.
- 3The shop couldn't compete with online prices, so after ten years the owners threw in the towel.
- 4Are you really going to throw in the towel after just one bad driving lesson?
- 5The climb was exhausting, but Grandad refused to throw in the towel and reached the top at sunset.
Grammar
throw is irregular: threw, thrown. Keep the towel singular, with the.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about sports
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →a level playing fielda situation where everyone has the same chancejump the gunto act too soon, before the right momentbelow the beltunfair and cruel, especially of a remarkdrop the ballto make a mistake by failing to deal with somethingpar for the coursewhat is normal or expected, usually something badneck and neckexactly level in a competition
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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