Last Updated：2025/11/29

(archaic, slang, idiomatic) To give up a contest; to acknowledge defeat; throw in the towel.

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throw up the sponge

Source Word

throw up the sponge

Verb

archaic idiomatic slang

(archaic, slang, idiomatic) To give up a contest; to acknowledge defeat; throw in the towel.

Japanese Meaning

（試合や競技などで）敗北を認め、降参すること / あきらめること / 戦いや対決において、勝負を放棄すること

After a relentless three-hour battle, the exhausted boxer was ready to throw up the sponge, admitting he'd been outmatched.

3時間にも及ぶ激しい戦いの末、疲れ切ったそのボクサーは自分が力及ばなかったことを認め、試合をあきらめる覚悟をしていた。

Sense（1）

(archaic, slang, idiomatic) To give up a contest; to acknowledge defeat; throw in the towel.

He was too brave a man to throw up the sponge to fate.

throws up the sponge

（ present singular third-person ）

throwing up the sponge

（ participle present ）

threw up the sponge

（ past ）

thrown up the sponge

（ participle past ）