Meaning & use
throw the towel
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiom
to stop trying to do something because you realize you cannot succeed
Grammar: Used as a verb phrase; it takes no object. The full form is throw in the towel.
Patterns
- throw the towel
- throw in the towel
After three failed attempts, she decided to throw the towel and look for a different job.
The team refused to throw the towel, even when they were two goals behind.
He didn't want to throw the towel on his studies, so he asked for extra help.
phraseidiomsport
in boxing, to show that a fighter has lost by throwing a towel into the ring
Grammar: This is the original literal use; it is much less common than the figurative meaning.
Patterns
- throw the towel into the ring
The coach threw the towel into the ring to stop the fight.
In those days, throwing the towel was the only way to save a boxer from serious injury.
Common combinations
- throw in the towel
- The company threw in the towel after losing its biggest client.
- refuse to throw in the towel
- She refused to throw in the towel despite the setbacks.
- be ready to throw in the towel
- After months of slow progress, he was ready to throw in the towel.
- throw the towel on something
- They threw the towel on the project when funding ran out.
Synonyms and how they differ
- give up
- A general phrase for stopping an attempt; it is more neutral and can be used for small things, while throw the towel suggests a final, dramatic decision.
- quit
- Often means leaving a job or activity completely; throw the towel focuses on stopping because you feel defeated.
- surrender
- A more formal word, often used in war or conflict; throw the towel is informal and used in everyday situations.
Opposites
Commonly confused: throw the towel or throw in the sponge?
throw the towel vs throw in the sponge
A rare variant with the same meaning; most learners should use throw in the towel instead.
Practice
After months of trying to save the business, the owner finally decided to ______.
Choose one answer.
The standard idiom is 'throw in the towel' (or 'throw the towel in' in British English). 'Throw the towel' without 'in' is less common but still understandable; 'throw a towel' just means throwing a towel, not giving up.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “throw the towel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.