throw in the towel and throw in the sponge; toss in the sponge
Theme: QUIT
tr. to quit; to give up. (From boxing where a towel or sponge thrown into the ring indicates that a boxer has given up.)I can tell when it's time to throw in the towel, and this is that time.The candidate who was exposed by the press as a former pickpocket tossed in the sponge at a tearful press conference.