The phrase throw in the towel, meaning to give up, originated in the world of boxing. An earlier phrase from the same sport that carried the same metaphorical meaning is chuck in the sponge. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Boxing Had “Chuck up the Sponge” Before “Throw in the Towel””
If you’re giving up on something, then you throw in the towel, right?
And that’s an expression that comes from boxing, right?
I think there’s throwing a sponge, too, yeah.
That’s what I was going to say.
I just came across that.
Chuck up the sponge or chuck in the sponge is an earlier term that also comes from boxing.
That means the same thing.
I’m going to chuck up the sponge.
So you’re no longer going to wipe up the blood on the mat or wipe up the sweat off the brow of the box?
You’re no longer going to participate in the pugilistic endeavor.
You’re done.
Chuck up the sponge.
You’re done-ski.
Go do something good in the world.
I don’t know.
