to throw in the sponge
1throw in the sponge — or[throw up the sponge] or[throw in the towel] {v. phr.}, {informal} To admit defeat; accept loss. * /After taking a beating for five rounds, the fighter s seconds threw in the sponge./ * /When Harold saw his arguments were not being accepted, he …
2throw in the sponge — or[throw up the sponge] or[throw in the towel] {v. phr.}, {informal} To admit defeat; accept loss. * /After taking a beating for five rounds, the fighter s seconds threw in the sponge./ * /When Harold saw his arguments were not being accepted, he …
3throw\ in\ the\ sponge — • throw in the sponge • throw up the sponge • throw in the towel v. phr. informal To admit defeat; accept loss. After taking a beating for five rounds, the fighter s seconds threw in the sponge. When Harold saw his arguments were not being… …
4throw\ up\ the\ sponge — • throw in the sponge • throw up the sponge • throw in the towel v. phr. informal To admit defeat; accept loss. After taking a beating for five rounds, the fighter s seconds threw in the sponge. When Harold saw his arguments were not being… …
5throw up the sponge — See: THROW IN THE SPONGE …
6throw up the sponge — See: THROW IN THE SPONGE …
7throw in the sponge — phrasal or throw up the sponge or throw in the towel Etymology: fr. the practice of a boxer s second of throwing a sponge or towel into the ring for his fighter to wipe his face, this being taken as an admission that they were no longer willing… …
8throw up the sponge — phrasal see throw in the sponge * * * throw up the sponge see under ↑sponge • • • Main Entry: ↑throw …
9throw in the sponge or towel — idi+inf throw in the sponge or towel, to concede defeat; give up …
10To throw up the sponge — Sponge Sponge (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. [ e]ponge, L. spongia, Gr. spoggia , spo ggos. Cf. {Fungus}, {Spunk}.] [Formerly written also {spunge}.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Spongi[ae], or Porifera. See Illust. and Note… …
