das Handtuch werfen
to throw in the towel; to give up
Origin
From boxing: the trainer throws a towel into the ring to give up the fight for his beaten boxer. In use beyond sport since the 1920s.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Two-way prepositions with accusative (Wohin? / where to)Wechselpräpositionen mit Akkusativ (Wohin?)
- Positional verbs with two-way prepositions (stellen/stehen …)Lokale Verben mit Wechselpräpositionen (stellen/stehen …)
- Local preposition 'an' (to/onto, Wohin?/where to? + accusative)Lokale Präposition 'an' (Wohin? + Akkusativ)
Examples
Kurz dem wollte er das .
Just before the finish he wanted to throw in the towel.