Dictionary

throw in the towel en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From the traditional signal from a boxer's support staff of throwing such an item into a boxing ring to indicate that the contestant cannot continue the match and is forfeiting to the opponent.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To quit; to give up.
   • In short, there was so much space and so many things to shove things behind that most people, called on to find a silver cow-creamer there, would have said “Oh, what's the use?” and thrown in the towel. 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter VIII:
   • If their restaurant can't get business even on Mother's Day, it might be time for them to throw in the towel.
   • One key imponderable is the attitude of the companies that will no longer have a role in the business. It is worth noting here that several have already thrown the towel in or been gently pushed out, such as Stagecoach and National Express. 2024 July 10, Christian Wolmar, “The future of the rail franchises is certainly uncertain”, in RAIL, number 1013, page 50:

Forms

Relateds

throw to the wolves · throw to the dogs

Synonyms

throw up one's hands · throw in the cards · throw up the sponge · throw in the sponge

Translations (48)

ru опусти́ть ру́ки ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · ru призна́ть своё пораже́ние ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · es botar la toalla ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · gd leig an saoghal leis an t-sruth ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · pl rozłożyć ręce ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · de das Handtuch werfen ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · cy rhoi'r ffidil yn y to ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · it gettare la spugna ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · is leggja árar í bát ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · da smide håndklædet i ringen ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · no kaste inn håndkledet ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · tr havlu atmak ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · is springa á limminu ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · ga an tuáille a chaitheamh isteach ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · it gettare le armi ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · ms putih mata ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · sv kasta in handduken ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · sv kasta yxan i sjön ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · hu bedobja a törülközőt ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · is henda inn handklæðinu ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · fi heittää pyyhe kehään ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · de den Hut draufhauen ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · ru призна́ть себя́ побежде́нным ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · pt jogar a toalha ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · sh baciti pušku u šaš ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · da kaste håndklædet i ringen ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · nl de handdoek in de ring werpen ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · ru сда́ться ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · et alla andma ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · es tirar la toballa ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · ja 匙を投げる ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · ru сложи́ть ору́жие ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · id melempar handuk ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · de die Flinte ins Korn werfen ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · ja お手上げ ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · sl vreči puško v koruzo ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · fr jeter le manche après la cognée ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · es tirar la toalla ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · cy taflu'r drol ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · cs hodit flintu do žita ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · ru подня́ть бе́лый флаг ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · fr jeter la serviette ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · pl rozkładać ręce ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · fr jeter l'éponge ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · sk hadzať flintu do žita ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · ca llançar la tovallola ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · ca tirar la tovallola ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up) · es tirar la tobaja ((idiomatic) to quit; to give up)