to throw up the sponge
11throw in the sponge — ► throw in the towel (or sponge) 1) (in boxing) throw a towel (or sponge) into the ring as a token of defeat. 2) admit defeat. Main Entry: ↑throw …
12throw in the sponge — phrasal see throw in the towel …
13throw in the sponge — Go to throw in the towel …
14throw in the sponge — informal to stop trying to do something because you know that you cannot succeed. Three of the original five candidates have now thrown in the towel …
15throw in the towel — 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… …
16throw\ in\ the\ towel — • 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… …
17throw in the towel — verb give up in the face of defeat of lacking hope; admit defeat (Freq. 1) In the second round, the challenger gave up • Syn: ↑drop out, ↑give up, ↑fall by the wayside, ↑drop by the wayside, ↑throw in, ↑ …
18throw in the towel — AND throw in the sponge; toss in the sponge tv. to quit; to give up. (From boxing where a towel or sponge thrown into the ring indicates that a boxer has given up.) □ I can tell when it’s time to throw in the towel, and this is that time. □ The… …
19throw in the towel — verb to quit; to give up Syn: throw up ones hands, throw in the sponge …
20throw in the towel — also throw in the sponge phrasal to abandon a struggle or contest ; acknowledge defeat ; give up …