throw in the towel
To give up or quit
Littéralement: To toss a small towel into a specific area
Use this when you've decided a challenge is no longer worth the struggle and you're quitting.
En 15 secondes
- To admit defeat and stop trying.
- Comes from boxing coaches stopping a fight.
- Used when a situation becomes too difficult.
Signification
This phrase means you are deciding to stop trying because something is too difficult. It is like admitting defeat and walking away from a challenge.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Trying to fix a leaky sink
After three hours of splashing water, I finally threw in the towel and called a plumber.
I gave up and called a professional.
A difficult business project
The startup wasn't making a profit, so the founders decided to throw in the towel.
The founders decided to close the business.
Texting a friend about a gym routine
This leg day is killing me; I'm about to throw in the towel and go get pizza.
I want to stop exercising and eat instead.
Contexte culturel
Originating in the early 20th-century boxing rings, this idiom reflects the sport's brutal nature where a physical towel signaled surrender. It transitioned into general English as a metaphor for any situation where persistence is no longer viable. It is one of the most common sports metaphors used in global business today.
Use it for emphasis
This phrase sounds much more dramatic than just saying 'I quit.' Use it when you want to show how hard you tried before stopping.
Don't use it for small breaks
If you say you're 'throwing in the towel' at the gym, people think you're going home, not just getting water!
En 15 secondes
- To admit defeat and stop trying.
- Comes from boxing coaches stopping a fight.
- Used when a situation becomes too difficult.
What It Means
Throw in the towel means you are giving up. You have tried your best, but it is not working. You decide to stop the struggle right now. It is about admitting that you cannot win or finish.
How To Use It
Use it as a verb phrase in a sentence. You can say I am ready to throw in the towel. You can also say Don't throw in the towel yet! It works well when talking about projects or goals. Use it when the effort feels like a heavy fight.
When To Use It
Use it when a DIY project goes wrong. Use it after studying for ten hours straight. It is perfect for a business deal that fails. Tell a friend when you stop dating someone difficult. It fits when you are exhausted and done.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for small, easy tasks. Don't use it if you are just taking a break. It implies a final, permanent stop to the effort. Avoid it in very formal legal documents. It is too colorful for a court of law.
Cultural Background
This phrase comes from the world of boxing. If a fighter was getting hurt, their coach threw a towel. This signaled to the referee to stop the fight. It was a way to protect the athlete from more pain. Now, we use it for any life struggle.
Common Variations
Sometimes people say toss in the towel instead. You might also hear throw in the sponge. That version is much older and less common today. Most people stick to the classic towel version. It is a very recognizable image for English speakers.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is highly versatile but carries a sense of finality. It is most effective when describing the end of a long or difficult struggle rather than a momentary frustration.
Use it for emphasis
This phrase sounds much more dramatic than just saying 'I quit.' Use it when you want to show how hard you tried before stopping.
Don't use it for small breaks
If you say you're 'throwing in the towel' at the gym, people think you're going home, not just getting water!
The Boxing Secret
In actual boxing today, throwing a towel is still a legal way for a trainer to stop a fight to save their athlete from injury.
Exemples
6After three hours of splashing water, I finally threw in the towel and called a plumber.
I gave up and called a professional.
Shows a transition from DIY effort to admitting defeat.
The startup wasn't making a profit, so the founders decided to throw in the towel.
The founders decided to close the business.
Used here to describe a major professional decision.
This leg day is killing me; I'm about to throw in the towel and go get pizza.
I want to stop exercising and eat instead.
Hyperbolic and casual use among friends.
I know the exam is hard, but don't throw in the towel just yet!
Don't give up on your studies now.
Used in the negative to provide motivation.
I tried learning the violin for years, but I eventually threw in the towel.
I finally stopped trying to learn it.
Reflects a sense of long-term exhaustion.
Seeing the opponent's lead, the candidate was forced to throw in the towel.
The candidate had to concede the race.
Fits well in political or competitive commentary.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct word to complete the idiom.
The marathon was too grueling, so Mark decided to throw in the ___.
The standard idiom is 'throw in the towel'—using other fabrics like 'napkin' would be incorrect.
Identify the meaning of the phrase in this context.
Sarah threw in the towel on her diet after seeing the dessert menu.
In this context, it means she abandoned her goal of dieting because the temptation was too strong.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Throw in the Towel'
Talking to friends about a video game.
I'm throwing in the towel, this level is impossible!
Discussing a work project with a peer.
If we don't get funding, we might have to throw in the towel.
A news report about a company closing.
The tech giant finally threw in the towel on its smartphone division.
When to Throw in the Towel
Fitness
Quitting a 30-day challenge on day 2.
Education
Dropping a class that is too hard.
Romance
Ending a relationship that isn't working.
Business
Closing a shop that loses money.
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsNot necessarily! It just means you've recognized that continuing is no longer useful or possible. It's often used for smart, strategic decisions like The company threw in the towel on the failing product.
It is better to avoid it when talking about your own history unless you're explaining a hard lesson. It can sound a bit negative. Instead, use I decided to pivot or I moved on.
The correct idiom is almost always throw IN the towel. Leaving out the in makes it sound like you are literally doing laundry.
They mean the same thing, but throw in the towel is more descriptive. It implies there was a 'fight' or a struggle involved before you stopped.
Usually, you throw in the towel *on* a task or project. You don't usually 'throw in the towel on a person' unless you mean you're giving up on helping them.
No, it is an idiom. It is widely understood by all age groups and is acceptable in most conversational and professional settings.
Yes, toss in the towel is a perfectly fine variation. It sounds slightly more casual than throw.
It is mostly used when someone is encouraging you NOT to do it. For example: Whatever you do, don't throw in the towel!
It comes from boxing. The trainer would throw a literal towel into the ring to stop the match.
Yes, it is used in the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. It is a very universal English expression.
Ironically, yes! If a team is losing by 50 points and stops trying hard, you can say they threw in the towel.
Yes, it is the older version of the phrase. You might see it in old books, but people rarely say it now.
Expressions liées
Call it quits
To agree to stop doing something.
Wave the white flag
To signal that you give up or surrender.
Walk away
To abandon a situation or relationship.
Call it a day
To stop working on something for the rest of the day.
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