to chuck up the sponge

9.9

To stop trying because it seems pointless

idiom

: rendirse

After losing three games in a row, the team decided to chuck up the sponge.

Examples

The exhausted team knew it was time to chuck up the sponge when the score became impossible to overcome.
Are you going to chuck up the sponge so easily?
After years of unsuccessful attempts, she finally decided to chuck up the sponge and close her business.
He refused to chuck up the sponge despite facing multiple setbacks throughout the project.
After years of unsuccessful attempts, she finally decided to chuck up the sponge and close her business.
The exhausted team knew it was time to chuck up the sponge when the score became impossible to overcome.
Despite his initial determination, he chose to chuck up the sponge after realizing he had no chance of winning the race.

Synonyms

to give up

vsto chuck up the sponge

∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

is used when effort seems futile rather than for other reasons

to give it up

vsto chuck up the sponge

683 3.7

To stop doing something you once did

focuses on admitting defeat after futility rather than simple cessation

to quit

vsto chuck up the sponge

653 1.5

To stop trying when something is too hard

highlights stopping after realising further effort will not succeed

to give in

vsto chuck up the sponge

220 3.0

To stop resisting and agree to what others want

means giving up after futility rather than yielding to outside pressure

to drop out

vsto chuck up the sponge

214 3.0

To leave a course, competition or group before finishing

often indicates formal or institutional leaving rather than admitting futile loss

to concede

vsto chuck up the sponge

49 4.9

To accept that you have lost a contest or election

is more about admitting defeat rather than merely stopping effort

to call it quits

vsto chuck up the sponge

Informal

34 3.9

To stop doing something because you cannot continue or feel you have done enough

is about admitting defeat after effort becomes clearly futile

to throw in

vsto chuck up the sponge

Informal

29 4.9

Stop trying because you cannot win

is about giving up after seeing further effort is futile

to throw in the towel

vsto chuck up the sponge

Informal

27 4.8

To stop trying because you know you cannot succeed

is the same idea but with a different informal phrase

to fall by the wayside

vsto chuck up the sponge

Informal

11 6.5

Stop taking part or trying because of problems

leans toward passive loss rather than a deliberate admission of defeat

to say uncle

vsto chuck up the sponge

Informal

2 8.9

To give up because of pressure or pain

stresses stopping because further effort seems hopeless rather than pressure

to eat dirt

vsto chuck up the sponge

Informal

2 8.9

To admit you are wrong and accept feeling ashamed, often unwillingly

involves stopping because effort is futile without the humiliation element

to cry uncle

vsto chuck up the sponge

Informal

1 8.8

To admit you give up when someone pressures you

focuses on accepting futility without being forced by pressure

to drop by the wayside

vsto chuck up the sponge

Informal

1 7.5

Stop taking part because it becomes too difficult

implies a gradual failure rather than an active admission of defeat

to pick up one's marbles and go home

vsto chuck up the sponge

Informal

1 9.9

To leave a group or activity because you do not get your way

is more about quitting after futility than leaving in protest

to cut bait

vsto chuck up the sponge

Informal

8.8

Stop wasting time and either act now or give up a plan that does not work

focuses on quitting once further effort is clearly futile

to jack it

vsto chuck up the sponge

Slang

9.9

To stop doing something suddenly because you are frustrated

describes stopping after realising further effort is pointless rather than sudden abandonment

Antonyms

to persist

62 3.7

To keep doing something or keep holding a belief despite difficulty

to persevere

22 5.1

Keep trying to do something even when it is hard

How Determined

to persevere

22 5.1

to chuck up the sponge

9.9

Surface Forms

chuck up the sponge infinitive

chucked up the sponge past

chucked up the sponge past participle

chucking up the sponge present participle

chucks up the sponge third person singular

Morphology

chuck + up + the + sponge

The sense 'to admit defeat' cannot be reliably derived from the literal meanings of the parts: 'chuck' = throw, 'up' (as given) = a period that has ended, and 'sponge' (given as a verb) = to live off someone. This is an idiomatic variant of 'throw in the sponge/towel' whose defeat meaning comes from a cultural boxing metaphor rather than transparent composition, so a B1 learner knowing the constituent words would unlikely infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

The phrase chuck up the sponge may come from old boxing matches where a fighter's corner would chuck a wet sponge into the ring to stop the fight when he could not continue. So today chuck up the sponge means 'to admit defeat' or 'to stop trying'.