admit defeat
Throw in towel
To admit defeat is to acknowledge that you have lost or cannot succeed—to stop fighting, competing, or trying.
The phrase implies reluctant acceptance: After six months of failed negotiations, the union admitted defeat.
You might admit defeat in a game, an argument, or any struggle where continued effort seems pointless.
- concedeAdmit something reluctantly
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
- yieldProduce or relinquish
- capitulateYield under pressure
- submitPresent for consideration
give up · give in · wave white flag · throw in the towel · throw in towel · bow out · bow down · retreat · forfeit · quit · call it quits · resign · acknowledge · humble · eat humble pie · beaten · vanquished · crushed
- Giving Ingive in, back down, cave in, throw in the towel, wave the white flag
- surrendersurrender, surrenders, surrendering, I surrender, capitulate
admit defeatfight on
Continue resisting or struggling
persevere · keep fighting · soldier on · press on · carry on
admit, admits, admitted, admitting, admittance, admission, admissible, inadmissible, defeat