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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.

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Ronnie O'Sullivan says he does not "want to throw in the towel just yet" after being well beaten in his 6-3 defeat by Chang Bingyu in the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open on Friday.

From BBC Aug. 28, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 15, 2026

“But if the conflict drags on, gasoline prices move even higher in the summer driving season, and stocks continue to falter, consumers could throw in the towel and start to pull back on their spending.”

From Barron's Mar. 31, 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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