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.”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

throw in the towel

Wardley survived the opening round but was overwhelmed by another sustained attack in the second, prompting his corner to throw in the towel.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

A cynic would have predicted that Britain would throw in the towel in 1940.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

But Ellison refused to throw in the towel.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026

If you faced challenges in your business or burned out in your career, did you throw in the towel or step back and breathe, and ask what your body was telling you?

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 19, 2026

Solos and clansmen alike were ready to throw in the towel.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

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Related Words

• bow
• break down
• buckle
• capitulate
• cave in
• cease
• defer
• give in
• give way
• go down
• pass away
• perish
• quit
• wilt
• yield

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