Region: General | Usage example: After three attempts to fix the bug, the team lead finally threw in the towel.

Throw in the towel

Meaning

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.

Used in both serious contexts and lighthearted ones to suggest stopping after persistent attempts.

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Comes from boxing when a trainer throws a towel into the ring to stop the fight.

Associated with prizefighting in the late 1800s when stopping a fight was as much about safety as defeat.