throw in the cards
Quit the game
To throw in the cards is to give up or quit, from the poker gesture of surrendering your hand by tossing cards face-down on the table.
The phrase suggests accepting defeat rather than continuing to compete: After three failed attempts at the bar exam, she threw in the cards and pursued a different career.
Also throw in one's cards; the more common variant is throw in the towel.
- give upStop attempting something
- give it upAbandon an attempt
- foldBend onto itself
- quitCease doing something
- pokerHearth implement for coals
capitulate · admit defeat · bow out · bluffing · chips · deck · concede · white flag · hand · resign · abandon · dealer · cut your losses · acceptance · yield · hopelessness · discouragement · retreat
throw in the cardspersevere
Continue despite obstacles
persist · keep going · soldier on · never give up · hang in there
throw in the cardsup the ante
Increase what's risked
go all in · recommit · raise the stakes · engage · buckle down
throw, throws, threw, thrown, throwing, thrower, in, the, card