threw in the cards
Quit the game
Threw in the cards means gave up or quit, from the poker gesture of tossing your hand face-down to fold.
The phrase suggests accepting defeat rather than continuing a losing effort: After three failed attempts at the bar exam, she threw in the cards and pursued a different career.
More common as "throw in the cards" or the related "throw in the towel."
- gave upAbandoned an attempt
- foldedBent upon itself
- dropFall or release
- defeatismAcceptance of inevitable failure
- give up the ghostDie or stop functioning
lost cause · call it quits · resignation · disillusionment · bowed out · pack it in · quit · despair · burnout · capitulated · caved in · wave the white flag · discouragement · hopelessness · bailed out · cash out · cut your losses · frustration
threw in the cardspersevered
Continued despite difficulty
soldiered on · kept going · never gave up · pressed on · doubled down
threw in the cardswent all in
doubled down · upped the ante · raised the stakes · stood one's ground · dug in one's heels
threw, throw, throws, throwing, thrown, thrower, card, cards, carded