看美剧学英语高频短语：Throw in the towel
Throw in the towel is an idiomatic expression meaning to give up, admit defeat, or stop trying after realizing that success is unlikely. Tone: informal, often slightly regretful but sometimes practical. （放弃、认输或停止继续尝试，通常是在经过努力之后仍然无法成功的情况下。整体语气通常带有：无奈、遗憾或现实接受的意味。）
The phrase comes from boxing: a coach would literally throw a towel into the ring to signal surrender on behalf of the fighter. In modern English, it is widely used in both literal and metaphorical contexts to describe quitting after struggle or exhaustion. （这个表达来源于拳击比赛：教练会把毛巾扔进拳击场，表示替选手认输或停止比赛。在现代英语中，它被广泛用于比喻意义，表示：）
It often implies:
- surrender after effort （在努力之后选择放弃）
- stopping a difficult attempt （承认失败）
- accepting failure or limitation （停止继续尝试）
- emotional or physical exhaustion leading to quitting （因疲惫或无力继续而退出）
场景一：《绝望的主妇》Desperate Housewives S05E06 09:55（Katherine & Bree）
Katherine：I’m thinking about moving to Maryland. 我在考虑搬去马里兰。
Bree：Maryland? 马里兰？
Katherine：Mm-hmm. Dylan’s there with her husband, And the baby’s coming soon. 嗯，迪伦和她丈夫在那里，而且孩子也快出生了。
——>> Maybe it’s time for me to go inflict myself on them. 也许是时候让我“去打扰”他们了。
Bree：You can’t just up and move. 你不能说搬就搬。
——>> You have a life here. 你在这里有生活。
Katherine：No, I don’t. I have a job—period. 不，我没有。我只有一份工作，仅此而已。
——>> No kids to raise, no husband, no boyfriend. 没有孩子要养，没有丈夫，没有男朋友。
——>> Might as well throw in the towel and… Go be a grandma. 那还不如直接放弃……去当个“奶奶”。
Bree：Katherine, you are a vibrant, attractive woman. Katherine, You—你是一个有活力、有魅力的女人。你……
Katherine：Who hasn’t had sex in two years. 你——一个两年没性生活的人。
——>> That spells “grandma” to me. 在我看来，这就等于“奶奶”。
场景二：《金装律师》Suits S04E16 20:19（Harvey, Mike & Rachel）
Harvey：Both of you? 你们两个一起？
Mike：We both work for you. 我们都为你工作。
Rachel：Which is why we’re both here to say 也正因为如此，我们今天来是想说
——>> maybe it’s time we explore other options. 也许是时候考虑其他选择了。
Harvey：You got to be kidding me. 你在开玩笑吧。
——>> You spent two days on this, and you’re ready to throw in the towel? 你们花了两天时间，现在就要放弃？
Mike：We’ve spent two of our five days on it, 我们五天里已经用了两天
——>> and we still don’t have a name, so we think it’s time to consider— 但还是没有结果，所以我们觉得该考虑——
Harvey：What? 什么？
Rachel：Going after Forstman, for whatever he did to you 12 years ago. 去追查 Forstman，为他12年前对你做的一切。
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