throw in the towel

Meaning

This idiom means to admit defeat, surrender, or give up on a difficult task or situation. It comes from boxing, where a fighter's trainer would literally throw a towel into the ring to stop the fight. It is used casually when someone decides to stop trying because they feel they cannot win or succeed.

Examples

• After trying to fix the old projector for three hours, I finally threw in the towel.

  After trying to fix the old projector for three hours, I finally threw in the towel.

• Don't throw in the towel just because the first audition didn't go well.

  Don't throw in the towel just because the first audition didn't go well.

• The game was so one-sided that the visiting team seemed ready to throw in the towel by halftime.

  The game was so one-sided that the visiting team seemed ready to throw in the towel by halftime.

• I was tempted to throw in the towel on this video game level, but I kept trying.

  I was tempted to throw in the towel on this video game level, but I kept trying.

• She refused to throw in the towel, even when the project budget was cut in half.

  She refused to throw in the towel, even when the project budget was cut in half.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He threw the towel in the ring.

  ✓ He threw in the towel.

  Do not mix this up with 'throw your hat in the ring' (which means to enter a contest). Stick to the exact idiom 'throw in the towel'.

• ✗ I decided to throw out the towel.

  ✓ I decided to throw in the towel.

  The correct preposition is 'in', reflecting the historical boxing context of throwing the towel into the ring.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The puzzle was too frustrating, so I decided to ___.

  💡 It means to give up.

  Show answer

  throw in the towel

• We've come too far to ___ now; let's keep practicing!

  💡 Don't surrender.

  Show answer

  throw in the towel