Idiom
throw in the towel
Meanings
To give up or admit defeat; to stop trying.
To quit an effort, project, or struggle because it seems hopeless or not worth continuing.
Definition
To admit defeat or stop trying because you believe you cannot succeed.
To throw in the towel means to give up on an effort or competition because you think you cannot win or continue. The idiom comes from boxing, where a trainer throws a towel into the ring to stop the fight. It is often used for work, relationships, negotiations, or long projects when someone decides to quit.
Examples
- After months of training, he refused to throw in the towel.
- We were losing money, so the owners decided to throw in the towel.
- Don’t throw in the towel just because the first interview went badly.
- She was ready to throw in the towel, but her team encouraged her to keep going.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes say "throw the towel" or "throw in towel" instead of the correct form "throw in the towel."
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idiom (verb phrase)s
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- drop the ball To drop the ball means to make a mistake or fail to do something you were responsible for.
- have a chinwag To have a chinwag means to have a relaxed, friendly chat with someone.
- face the music To accept and deal with the unpleasant consequences of what you have done or a difficult situation.