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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 Cold Water on Somethingthrow good money after badthrow money awaythrow one's hat over the fencethrow one's weight aroundthrow in at the deep endthrow in withthrow offthrow one's hat in the ringthrow downthrow downthrow chunksthrow downthrow down

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    "throw in the towel." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/throw-in-the-towel_7497>.

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