up the towel
1throw 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, ↑ …
2throw in the towel — to admit defeat or failure. The union was forced to throw in the towel and settle their bitter dispute with the company. Etymology: based on the literal meaning of throwing a towel into the ring in boxing (= signaling that a fighter can no longer …
3throw in the towel — If you throw in the towel, you admit that you are defeated or cannot do something. (Dorking School Dictionary) *** If you throw in the towel, you admit that you cannot succeed. After unsuccessfully competing in several… …
4throw 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… …
5throw\ 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… …
6throw in the towel (or sponge) — (of boxers or their seconds) throw a towel (or sponge) into the ring as a token of defeat. ↘admit defeat. → throw …
7throw in the towel — If you throw in the towel, you admit that you are defeated or cannot do something …
8throw in the towel — ► 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 …
9throw 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… …
10throw in the towel — surrender, give up The boxer threw in the towel about half way through the match …
