Grammar fix
throw in the towel
admit defeat
To stop trying because you accept that you are unlikely to succeed.
How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
After three failed attempts to fix the old car, I threw in the towel.
I nearly threw in the towel when I failed my driving test twice, but I booked more lessons and passed on my third attempt.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: I threw the towel.
Say: I threw in the towel.
The idiom always includes the preposition 'in'.
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
Decide to stop trying
How directFigurativeExplicit
throw in the towelYou're here · Admitting defeat after trying to succeed.
call it quitsDeciding further effort is no longer worthwhile.give upStopping because the task seems too difficult or impossible.