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Synonyms

throw in the towel

Cultural  

  1. To quit in defeat. The phrase comes from boxing, in which a fighter indicates surrender by throwing a towel into the ring: “After losing the election, he threw in the towel on his political career.”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

NPR is tracking the number of lawmakers who have decided to throw in the towel this year.

From Slate • Jan. 14, 2026

In this regard, bull-market tops are not the mirror opposite of bear-market bottoms, which often are characterized by plunging sentiment as the last remaining optimists throw in the towel.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 2, 2025

They are facing an ominous task in Brisbane where England have won just twice since World War II, but another former England captain is not yet ready to throw in the towel.

From Barron's • Nov. 23, 2025

“If I were distracted by” negative press, she said in an interview when she was given the role, “I would’ve had to throw in the towel a very, very long time ago.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

Alisha was ready to throw in the towel, but Bonnie wanted to go for high tea at the Plaza Hotel.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.