Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

throw up the sponge

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.56 in modern English

Syllables: throw up the sponge
IPA

30

Scrabble Score

16

Letters

1

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To give up a contest; to acknowledge defeat; to throw in the towel.

Archaic; Intransitive verb; Slang

Example Sentences

"But he was too brave a man to throw up the sponge to fate, and had work to do yet."
"At a time when official railway operators throw up the sponge for much less reason, it seems that only voluntary enthusiasm would ever contemplate the task at all."

Etymology

From a custom of the boxing ring, the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat.

Usage

Inflected Forms

throws up the sponge (present, singular) throwing up the sponge (participle, present) threw up the sponge (past) thrown up the sponge (participle, past)

Questions

What does throw up the sponge mean?: To give up a contest; to acknowledge defeat; to throw in the towel.
Where does throw up the sponge come from?: From a custom of the boxing ring, the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat.

How to pronounce throw up the sponge

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