threw in the towel
phrase
variants
also threw in the sponge
as in conceded
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
The badly beaten wrestler finally had to throw in the towel.
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“Threw in the towel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threw%20in%20the%20towel. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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