Definition of Throw in the towel

1. Verb. Give up in the face of defeat of lacking hope; admit defeat. "In the second round, the challenger gave up"

Exact synonyms: Chuck Up The Sponge, Drop By The Wayside, Drop Out, Fall By The Wayside, Give Up, Quit, Throw In
Antonyms: Enter
Derivative terms: Quitter

Definition of Throw in the towel

1. Verb. (idiomatic) To quit; to give up. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Throw In The Towel

throw chunks
throw cold water on
throw dirt
throw dirt enough, and some will stick
throw down
throw down one's tools
throw down the gauntlet
throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick
throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick
throw for a loop
throw good money after bad
throw in
throw in at the deep end
throw in the bark
throw in the sponge
throw in the towel (current term)
throw in with
throw money away
throw off
throw off balance
throw off the trail
throw on
throw one's cap over the windmill
throw one's hat in the ring
throw one's hat into the ring
throw one's hat over the windmill
throw one's name in the hat
throw one's toys out of the pram
throw one's weight around
throw out

Literary usage of Throw in the towel

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. In the Shade of an Acacia Tree: Memoirs of a Health Officer in Africa, 1945-1959 by Frank L. Lambrecht (1991)
"... one night when a noise like a deep sigh came from the ceiling as if someone had given up holding a heavy weight and was about to throw in the towel. ..."

2. In the Shade of an Acacia Tree: Memoirs of a Health Officer in Africa, 1945-1959 by Frank L. Lambrecht (1991)
"... one night when a noise like a deep sigh came from the ceiling as if someone had given up holding a heavy weight and was about to throw in the towel. ..."

3. Cruising the Mediterranean: A Guide to the Ports of Call by Larry H. Ludmer (2007)
"They struggled through financial difficulties for a time but eventually had to throw in the towel in 2004. However, the best ships were acquired by MSC ..."

4. Wit and Wisdom: A Public Affairs Miscellany by Colin Bingham (1982)
"Jurors who realise during a hearing that they are out of their depth or upside-down in legal mumbo-jumbo cannot just throw in the towel. ..."

5. Punitive Damages: Tort Reform & Fda Defenses: Hearings Before the Committee edited by Orrin G. Hatch (1998)
"Many defendants simply throw in the towel and pay the extortion. Other punitive damage awards upheld by courts in the past three years have ..."

6. Practical Ideas for Teaching Writing As a Process by Carol B. Olson (1996)
"In conclusion, I must confess that I was ready to "throw in the towel," so to speak, after repeated years of hit-and-miss failures and successes in the ..."

7. Liberal Reform in an Illiberal Regime: The Creation of Private Property in by Stephen F. Williams (2006)
"... may have driven villagers to throw in the towel and vote for whole-village consolidation. And 64. Yaney, The Urge to Mobilize, 237-38. 65. ..."

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