towel (redirected from towelled)

throw in the sponge/towel (informal)

to stop trying to do something because you know that you cannot succeed. Three of the original five candidates have now thrown in the towel.

See also: throw

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throw in the towel

to admit defeat or failure. The union was forced to throw in the towel and settle their bitter dispute with the company.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of throwing a towel into the ring in boxing (= signaling that a fighter can no longer continue by throwing a towel into the area where the fight takes place)

See also: throw