How do you say “Throw in the towel” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is Tirar la toalla, which literally means “To throw the towel”. English speakers use throw in the towel to mean to stop trying and admit defeat because a situation has become too difficult. An established close equivalent for giving up a struggle or effort. Register: informal, neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
Tirar la toalla
/tiˈɾaɾ la toˈaʝa/
- Literal meaning
- “To throw the towel”
- Register
- informal, neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
99 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
Both languages use the towel as a sign of surrender. The expression works well beyond sport, from a difficult course to a failing business.
It usually suggests that someone has already tried. In a negative command, it becomes encouragement to keep going.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity5 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in Spanish?
Rendirse
Literally: “To surrender oneself”
A direct general verb for giving up.
Darse por vencido
Literally: “To consider oneself defeated”
Stresses accepting defeat; use vencida for a woman.
Common translation traps
Tirar en la toalla
Spanish does not use en here; the expression is tirar la toalla.
The notes above explain why these versions do not work in this context in Spanish.
In context
English
Do not throw in the towel yet.
Spanish
No tires la toalla todavía.
English
After three failed attempts, he threw in the towel.
Spanish
Después de tres intentos fallidos, tiró la toalla.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-09-13