American business jargon. 2014.
throw\ in\ the\ towel — • throw in the sponge • throw up the sponge • throw in the towel v. phr. informal To admit defeat; accept loss. After taking a beating for five rounds, the fighter s seconds threw in the sponge. When Harold saw his arguments were not being… … Словарь американских идиом
throw in the towel — ► throw in the towel (or sponge) 1) (in boxing) throw a towel (or sponge) into the ring as a token of defeat. 2) admit defeat. Main Entry: ↑throw … English terms dictionary
throw in the towel — If you throw in the towel, you admit that you are defeated or cannot do something … The small dictionary of idiomes
throw in the towel — verb give up in the face of defeat of lacking hope; admit defeat (Freq. 1) In the second round, the challenger gave up • Syn: ↑drop out, ↑give up, ↑fall by the wayside, ↑drop by the wayside, ↑throw in, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
throw in the towel — If you throw in the towel, you admit that you are defeated or cannot do something. (Dorking School Dictionary) *** If you throw in the towel, you admit that you cannot succeed. After unsuccessfully competing in several… … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
throw in the towel — AND throw in the sponge; toss in the sponge tv. to quit; to give up. (From boxing where a towel or sponge thrown into the ring indicates that a boxer has given up.) □ I can tell when it’s time to throw in the towel, and this is that time. □ The… … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
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 … New idioms dictionary
throw in the towel — Sponge Sponge (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. [ e]ponge, L. spongia, Gr. spoggia , spo ggos. Cf. {Fungus}, {Spunk}.] [Formerly written also {spunge}.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Spongi[ae], or Porifera. See Illust. and Note… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
throw in the towel — to concede defeat Boxing imagery, from what the second does when his fighter is unable to continue: I ve got to go to Rummidge to see my lawyer tomorrow. I could instruct him to throw in the towel. (Lodge, 1995) … How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms
throw in the towel — quit fighting, give up Don t throw in the towel. One more year and you ll graduate … English idioms
