Did you know that language can encapsulate complex emotions like defeat and surrender in just a few words?
Idioms for giving up provide a rich tapestry of expressions that convey the weight of quitting.
This article will unpack several of these idioms, revealing their origins and how they resonate with our daily lives.
By the end, you’ll not only expand your vocabulary but also gain a deeper appreciation for the nuances of giving up.
✅ The 25 Idioms for Giving Up
1. Throw in the towel
The meaning: To give up or admit defeat.
Origin: Comes from boxing, where a trainer throws a towel into the ring to stop the fight.
In a sentence:
- After months of struggling, he finally threw in the towel.
- Don’t throw in the towel just yet; keep trying.
- The team threw in the towel after falling behind by 20 points.
Other Ways to Say:
- Give up
- Quit
- Surrender
2. Give up the ghost
The meaning: To stop trying; to fail completely.
Origin: Originally meant to die or cease to function, like a machine or person.
In a sentence:
- The old car finally gave up the ghost after years of use.
- He gave up the ghost on the project when it became too difficult.
- She didn’t give up the ghost even after repeated failures.
Other Ways to Say:
- Stop trying
- Break down
- Collapse
3. Call it quits
The meaning: To stop doing something, especially because it’s too difficult or not worthwhile.
Origin: From gambling, where “quits” means to stop playing and settle accounts.
In a sentence:
- After hours of arguing, they decided to call it quits.
- She called it quits on her attempt to learn the instrument.
- The company called it quits after failing to secure funding.
Other Ways to Say:
- Give up
- Quit
- Stop
4. Throw up your hands
The meaning: To give up or admit defeat, often out of frustration.
Origin: The physical gesture of raising hands signals surrender or frustration.
In a sentence:
- She threw up her hands when she couldn’t fix the computer.
- After many failed attempts, he threw up his hands and walked away.
- Don’t throw up your hands just because it’s hard.
Other Ways to Say:
- Surrender
- Give up
- Quit
5. Wave the white flag
The meaning: To surrender or admit defeat.
Origin: A white flag is internationally recognized as a symbol of surrender in battle.
In a sentence:
- They finally waved the white flag after months of fighting the legal battle.
- Don’t wave the white flag just yet; keep trying.
- He waved the white flag and agreed to compromise.
Other Ways to Say:
- Surrender
- Give up
- Throw in the towel
6. Pack it in
The meaning: To stop working or doing an activity; to give up.
Origin: British slang originally meaning to stop work or activity.
In a sentence:
- He packed it in after realizing the business wouldn’t succeed.
- Let’s not pack it in yet; there’s still a chance.
- They packed it in after losing the contract.
Other Ways to Say:
- Give up
- Quit
- Stop
7. Throw in the sponge
The meaning: To give up or surrender.
Origin: Boxing term similar to “throw in the towel,” where a sponge was used to stop the fight.
In a sentence:
- After several failures, he threw in the sponge.
- Don’t throw in the sponge before trying your best.
- The team threw in the sponge after a tough season.
Other Ways to Say:
- Give up
- Surrender
- Quit
8. Throw up the towel
The meaning: Another way to say give up or surrender.
Origin: Variant of “throw in the towel,” from boxing.
In a sentence:
- She threw up the towel after the project became too challenging.
- Don’t throw up the towel so easily.
- The team threw up the towel after losing the game.
Other Ways to Say:
- Throw in the towel
- Give up
- Surrender
9. Quit cold turkey
The meaning: To stop doing something abruptly and completely.
Origin: Originally referred to sudden withdrawal from drugs; “cold turkey” relates to cold, plain food symbolizing harshness.
In a sentence:
- He quit smoking cold turkey last year.
- She decided to quit cold turkey instead of gradually reducing her workload.
- Quitting cold turkey can be tough but effective.
Other Ways to Say:
- Stop immediately
- Give up suddenly
- Quit outright
10. Give up the ship
The meaning: To surrender or admit defeat.
Origin: Nautical term from naval battles where abandoning a ship means surrender.
In a sentence:
- The captain refused to give up the ship despite the enemy’s pressure.
- Don’t give up the ship just because things are tough.
- They gave up the ship after the negotiations failed.
Other Ways to Say:
- Surrender
- Give up
- Quit
11. Throw your hands up
The meaning: To give up or admit defeat, often out of frustration.
Origin: Physical gesture of raising hands in surrender.
In a sentence:
- She threw her hands up after trying to solve the puzzle for hours.
- He threw his hands up and admitted he couldn’t fix the problem.
- Don’t throw your hands up so easily.
Other Ways to Say:
- Give up
- Surrender
- Quit
12. Throw in the sponge
The meaning: To give up or surrender.
Origin: A phrase from boxing where a sponge was thrown in to signal surrender.
In a sentence:
- The fighter threw in the sponge after getting hurt.
- They threw in the sponge when the project failed.
- Don’t throw in the sponge before giving it your all.
Other Ways to Say:
- Give up
- Surrender
- Quit
13. Wave the white flag
The meaning: To surrender or admit defeat.
Origin: The white flag is a universal symbol of surrender.
In a sentence:
- They waved the white flag after a long struggle.
- Don’t wave the white flag yet; you can still succeed.
- He waved the white flag and accepted the loss.
Other Ways to Say:
- Surrender
- Give up
- Throw in the towel
14. Throw up the towel
The meaning: To give up or surrender.
Origin: From boxing, indicating surrender.
In a sentence:
- After many setbacks, she threw up the towel.
- He didn’t want to throw up the towel but had no choice.
- The team threw up the towel after losing several games.
Other Ways to Say:
- Throw in the towel
- Give up
- Surrender
15. Hang up your boots
The meaning: To stop working or retire from an activity.
Origin: From sports or military, referring to retiring and literally hanging boots.
In a sentence:
- He decided to hang up his boots after 20 years in the business.
- She hung up her boots and started a new career.
- It’s time to hang up your boots and enjoy retirement.
Other Ways to Say:
- Retire
- Stop working
- Give up
16. Let go of the rope
The meaning: To stop holding on; to give up.
Origin: Origin unclear or unknown.
In a sentence:
- He finally let go of the rope after months of trying.
- Sometimes you have to let go of the rope and move on.
- Don’t let go of the rope too soon.
Other Ways to Say:
- Give up
- Release
- Stop holding on
17. Cry uncle
The meaning: To admit defeat or surrender.
Origin: American slang from the late 19th century, possibly from Irish immigrants.
In a sentence:
- After the long debate, he finally cried uncle.
- Don’t cry uncle so quickly.
- She cried uncle and agreed to the terms.
Other Ways to Say:
- Give up
- Surrender
- Throw in the towel
18. Throw in the sponge
The meaning: To give up or surrender.
Origin: Boxing term.
In a sentence:
- They threw in the sponge after the project failed.
- Don’t throw in the sponge yet.
- He threw in the sponge after repeated failures.
Other Ways to Say:
- Surrender
- Give up
- Quit
19. Wave the white flag
The meaning: To admit defeat.
Origin: Universal symbol of surrender.
In a sentence:
- They waved the white flag after losing hope.
- Don’t wave the white flag just yet.
- She waved the white flag and accepted defeat.
Other Ways to Say:
- Give up
- Surrender
- Throw in the towel
20. Lose heart
The meaning: To become discouraged and give up.
Origin: Origin unclear or unknown.
In a sentence:
- Don’t lose heart; things will get better.
- She lost heart after many setbacks.
- He refused to lose heart despite the challenges.
Other Ways to Say:
- Become discouraged
- Give up hope
- Feel defeated
21. Hang it up
The meaning: To quit or stop doing something.
Origin: Originally from sports, meaning to retire and hang up one’s equipment.
In a sentence:
- He hung it up after 30 years of coaching.
- She decided to hang it up and pursue a different career.
- They hung it up when the business failed.
Other Ways to Say:
- Quit
- Retire
- Stop
22. Pack up
The meaning: To give up or quit.
Origin: Origin unclear or unknown.
In a sentence:
- He packed up and left when the project failed.
- Don’t pack up before giving it your best shot.
- She packed up after years of trying.
Other Ways to Say:
- Quit
- Give up
- Stop
23. Give in
The meaning: To surrender or yield.
Origin: Origin unclear or unknown.
In a sentence:
- He finally gave in to the pressure.
- Don’t give in too quickly.
- She gave in aftera long argument.
Other Ways to Say:
- Surrender
- Yield
- Submit
24. Back down
The meaning: To stop resisting or concede defeat.
Origin: Origin unclear or unknown.
In a sentence:
- He refused to back down during the negotiation.
- Eventually, she backed down to avoid conflict.
- Don’t back down too easily.
Other Ways to Say:
- Give in
- Surrender
- Concede
25. Bow out
The meaning: To withdraw or quit gracefully.
Origin: From the act of bowing to show respect or farewell.
In a sentence:
- He bowed out of the competition after a strong run.
- She decided to bow out and focus on other priorities.
- They bowed out gracefully despite the loss.
Other Ways to Say:
- Withdraw
- Quit
- Step down
✅ 10 Practice Exercises on Idioms for Giving Up (Fill in the Blanks)
Fill in the blanks with the correct idioms from the list above:
- After many failed attempts, he decided to __________ and stop trying.
- Don’t __________ just because things get tough.
- She __________ after realizing the project was impossible.
- The fighter’s coach threw in the __________ to stop the match.
- They finally __________ after months of negotiation.
- He decided to __________ and retire from his career.
- Despite pressure, she refused to __________.
- The team was ready to __________ after losing the last game.
- He __________ and quit smoking overnight.
- She didn’t want to __________ but had no choice.
Answer Key
- throw in the towel
- give up
- call it quits
- sponge
- wave the white flag
- hang it up
- give in
- pack it in
- quit cold turkey
- bow out
Idioms for Giving Up (Summary)
Now that you’ve learned these idioms for giving up, try using them in everyday conversations and writing.
The more you practice, the more natural they’ll become.
Keep exploring new idioms to level up your fluency and sound more like a native speaker.
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