Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
to throw in the towel
idiomatic expression
/tə θroʊ ɪn ðə ˈtaʊəl/
Definition
To give up or admit defeat.
Examples
- After several failed attempts to fix the car, he decided to throw in the towel and call a mechanic.
- Despite their hard work, the team had to throw in the towel when they realized they couldn’t catch up.
- She didn’t want to throw in the towel after only a few months of training.
Meaning
This phrase is used when someone decides to stop trying to achieve something because they feel they cannot succeed.
Synonyms
- give up
- quit
- admit defeat
