throw in the towel
phrase
variants
or less commonly throw in the sponge
: to abandon a struggle or contest : acknowledge defeat : give up
Cite this Entry
“Throw in the towel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throw%20in%20the%20towel. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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