throw in the sponge

throw in the sponge
throw in the towel & throw in the sponge & toss in the sponge
Fig. (From boxing, where this is done by a boxer's trainer to stop the fight.) to signal that one is going to quit; to quit. •

When John could stand no more of Mary's bad temper, he threw in the towel and left.

Don't give up now! It's too soon to throw in the sponge.

* * *
or[throw up the sponge] or[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 accepted, he threw in the towel and left./ Syn.: GIVE UP.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • throw in the sponge — or[throw up the sponge] or[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 accepted, he …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • throw\ in\ the\ sponge — • 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\ up\ the\ sponge — • 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 sponge — phrasal or throw up the sponge or throw in the towel Etymology: fr. the practice of a boxer s second of throwing a sponge or towel into the ring for his fighter to wipe his face, this being taken as an admission that they were no longer willing… …   Useful english dictionary

  • throw up the sponge — phrasal see throw in the sponge * * * throw up the sponge see under ↑sponge • • • Main Entry: ↑throw …   Useful english dictionary

  • throw up the sponge — See: THROW IN THE SPONGE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • throw up the sponge — See: THROW IN THE SPONGE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • throw in the sponge — ► 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 sponge or towel — idi+inf throw in the sponge or towel, to concede defeat; give up …   From formal English to slang

  • throw in the sponge — phrasal see throw in the towel …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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