Phrase guide

throw in the towel

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To quit; to give up.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

give up in the face of defeat of lacking hope; admit defeat

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • In the second round, the challenger gave up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: drop out, give up, fall by the wayside, drop by the wayside, throw in, quit, chuck up the sponge

Antonyms: none provided

History

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.

Across languages

Translations

47 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: llançar la tovallola — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Catalan: tirar la tovallola — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Czech: hodit flintu do žita — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Danish: kaste håndklædet i ringen — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Danish: smide håndklædet i ringen — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Dutch: de handdoek in de ring werpen — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Estonian: alla andma — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Finnish: heittää pyyhe kehään — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • French: jeter l'éponge — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • French: jeter la serviette — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • French: jeter le manche après la cognée — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • German: das Handtuch werfen — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • German: die Flinte ins Korn werfen — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Hungarian: bedobja a törülközőt — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Icelandic: leggja árar í bát — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Icelandic: springa á limminu — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Icelandic: henda inn handklæðinu — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Indonesian: melempar handuk — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Irish: an tuáille a chaitheamh isteach — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Italian: gettare la spugna — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Italian: gettare le armi — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Japanese: 匙を投げる (saji o nageru) — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Japanese: お手上げ (oteage) — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Malay: putih mata — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Norwegian: kaste inn håndkledet — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Polish: rozkładać ręce — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Polish: rozłożyć ręce — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Portuguese: jogar a toalha — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Russian: подня́ть бе́лый флаг (podnjátʹ bélyj flag) — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Russian: опусти́ть ру́ки (opustítʹ rúki) — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Russian: сда́ться (sdátʹsja) — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Russian: призна́ть своё пораже́ние (priznátʹ svojó poražénije) — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Russian: призна́ть себя́ побежде́нным (priznátʹ sebjá pobeždénnym) — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Russian: сложи́ть ору́жие (složítʹ orúžije) — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Scottish Gaelic: leig an saoghal leis an t-sruth — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Serbo-Croatian: baciti pušku u šaš — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Slovak: hadzať flintu do žita — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Slovene: vreči puško v koruzo — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Spanish: tirar la toalla — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Spanish: botar la toalla — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Spanish: tirar la toballa — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Spanish: tirar la tobaja — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Swedish: kasta in handduken — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Swedish: kasta yxan i sjön — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Turkish: havlu atmak — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Welsh: rhoi'r ffidil yn y to — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up
  • Welsh: taflu'r drol — (idiomatic) to quit; to give up