Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English: Throw in the towel

What does it mean?

To give up or stop trying after a struggle.

Is it positive or negative?

Neutral to negative.

When do you use it?

Use it when someone decides to quit or stop a difficult effort.

Examples

Example 1: He threw in the towel after the second attempt.

Example 2: Do not throw in the towel just yet.

Question for you

When is it sensible to throw in the towel?

Are you looking for English speaking practice online?

Throw in the towel is a strong idiom for giving up. We can practise it with the right tone in online English lessons with a British native speaker. A related phrase is draw a line under. Find out more here.