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throw in the towel

To quit; to give up.

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.
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If their restaurant can't get business even on Mother's Day, it might be time for them to throw in the towel.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'throw in the towel':

Throw in the TowelAdmitting your defeat; quit from something or giving up
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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to throw in the towel

throw one's hat over the windmillthrow cold water onthrow enough mud at the wall and some o…throw downthrow offthrow onthrow down the gauntletthrow in withthrow chunksthrow enough mud at the wall, some of i…throw offthrow one's hat over the fencethrow off the trailthrow one's toys out of the pram

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    "throw in the towel." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 17 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/throw-in-the-towel_7497>.

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