Throw in the towel

Meaning

To give up or surrender, often when trying to win an argument or fight a losing battle.

Usage

• The judge was about to throw in the towel on the case when a key witness finally appeared.
• My teammates told me to throw in the towel and accept defeat.
• I tried to argue my point, but he wouldn't listen, so I threw in the towel.
• After months of trying to save their relationship, she finally threw in the towel.
• The company had been losing money for years, and it was time to throw in the towel and close down shop.

Roots and History

The idiom "throw in the towel" dates back to the early 20th century and is believed to have originated from the world of boxing. In the ring, fighters would use towels to wipe away sweat and blood during fights. When a fighter was clearly losing, they would throw in the towel to signal their surrender. Over time, the idiom took on a broader meaning beyond just boxing and came to refer to giving up or surrendering in any situation.

Synonyms in English

• Throw in the white flag
• Surrender
• Concede defeat
• Give up
• Accept failure

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: rendirse
• French: rendre la main
• German: aufgeben
• Italian: arrendersi
• Portuguese: render-se

Similar Idioms

• down for the count

• the ball rolling

• two peas in a pod