throw in the towel
Abandon the fight
Throw in the towel means to give up or admit defeat.
The expression comes from boxing, where a trainer tosses a towel into the ring to signal that their fighter cannot continue.
Outside the ring, it applies to any situation where someone abandons an effort after struggling: After three failed attempts to pass the bar exam, she finally threw in the towel and pursued a different career.
Cease doing something
- give upStop attempting something
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
- capitulateYield under pressure
- concedeAdmit something reluctantly
resign · withdraw · retire · abandon · stop · cease · desist · walk away
Having lost a contest
- defeatedOvercome in contest
- vanquishedDefeated completely
- overcomePrevail against difficulty
- outmatchedInferior to one's opponent
outplayed · overpowered · bested · crushed · trounced · routed · dominated · overwhelmed
Yielding to another's will
- yieldingBending under pressure
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- acceptanceConsent to receive
letting go · coming to terms · admitting defeat · swallowing pride · eating humble pie · concession · white flag · truce
quit
Cease doing something
- give upStop attempting something
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
- capitulateYield under pressure
concede · resign · withdraw · retire · abandon · stop · cease · desist · walk away · bow out
beaten
Having lost a contest
- defeatedOvercome in contest
- vanquishedDefeated completely
- overcomePrevail against difficulty
outmatched · outplayed · overpowered · bested · crushed · trounced · routed · dominated · overwhelmed · knocked out
submission
Yielding to another's will
- yieldingBending under pressure
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
acceptance · letting go · coming to terms · admitting defeat · swallowing pride · eating humble pie · concession · white flag · truce · uncle
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, fire away, take a shot
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- Old Idiomsbeyond the pale, hue and cry, scot-free, knight in shining armor, eat humble pie
- sports idiomsdrop the ball, slam dunk, out of left field, level playing field, hit it out of the park
- competition metaphorslevel playing field, race to the bottom, win-win, rat race, front runner
- Giving Ingive in, back down, cave in, wave the white flag, admit defeat
throw in the towelpersevere
Continue despite obstacles
keep going · soldier on · press on · persist · stick it out
throw in the toweldefy
Resist or challenge openly
stand firm · hold one's ground · resist · conquer · triumph
throw, towel, overthrow, thrown, throwing, threw, throws, overthrown, thrower