throw up the sponge
To give up a contest; to acknowledge defeat; to throw in the towel.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He decided to throw up the sponge after losing the game.”
“You should never throw up the sponge during a difficult exam.”
“The team struggled for hours, but they finally threw up the sponge when the score became impossible to beat.”
“After trying to fix the broken engine all afternoon, the mechanic threw up the sponge and called for a tow truck.”
“The small company had to throw up the sponge when a much larger competitor moved into the same neighborhood.”
“Despite his initial determination to win the legal battle, the mounting costs eventually forced him to throw up the sponge and accept the settlement.”
From a custom of the boxing ring, whereby the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds would throw his sponge into the air as a token of defeat. Use of the phrase dates to the mid-19th century, recording the moment a corner man surrendered on behalf of a fighter who was no longer in a position to negotiate the terms of his own consciousness.
- 01
lock someone up and throw away the key
To lock someone up in prison indefinitely.
- 02
stone's throw
A short distance, roughly equivalent to how far a person can throw a stone.
- 03
throw a bone to
To provide support or assistance to, especially in one particular way or to a limited extent; to make a concession to.
- 04
throw a fit
To become angry, enraged, or upset; to act or react with an outburst, as by shouting, swearing, etc.
- 05
throw a kiss
To kiss one's hand, then make a gesture as if one was throwing the kiss in a direction towards the recipient.
- 06
throw a monkey wrench in the works
Synonym of throw a spanner in the works.
- 07
throw a monkey wrench into the works
Synonym of throw a spanner into the works.
- 08
throw a spanner in the works
To introduce a problem, dilemma or obstacle, something unexpected or troublesome.
Last updated August 10, 2026