Giving up after a setback
The idiom describes the point at which someone gives up trying. Context tells you whether it is a game, a project or another task.
Wir werfen noch nicht das Handtuch says the group is still trying. Noch nicht leaves their later decision open.
Nach dem dritten erfolglosen Versuch hat der Techniker das Handtuch geworfen.
After the third unsuccessful attempt, the technician threw in the towel.
The context shows he stopped trying to fix it.
Fixed wording and verb forms
Use the definite article in das Handtuch. In the present tense, compare ich werfe with sie wirft.
In the perfect tense, use hat das Handtuch geworfen. With a modal, werfen comes at the end: Wir wollen das Handtuch noch nicht werfen.
Die Mannschaft liegt zurück, will das Handtuch aber noch nicht werfen.
The team is behind but is not ready to throw in the towel yet.
Noch nicht leaves a later decision open.
A break is different
If you stop for today but plan to continue tomorrow, you can say Ich mache eine Pause. That says nothing about giving up.
A towel can also be thrown literally. In Er wirft das Handtuch in den Wäschekorb, the destination makes it a physical action.
Wenn heute keine Lösung möglich ist, machen wir eine Pause und werfen nicht gleich das Handtuch.
If we cannot find a solution today, we’ll take a break instead of giving up straight away.
The sentence distinguishes a break from quitting.
Everyday conversations
Dialogue in the workshop
Pia and Yun discuss a difficult repair.
- Pia
Der alte Plattenspieler läuft immer noch nicht.
The old record player still won’t work.
- Yun
Hast du schon den Schalter geprüft?
Have you checked the switch yet?
- Pia
Ja. Wenn auch das Ersatzkabel nichts bringt, werfe ich das Handtuch.
Yes. If the replacement cable doesn’t help either, I’m throwing in the towel.
- Yun
Dann probieren wir es mit dem Kabel noch einmal.
Then let’s give it one more try with the cable.
Usage note
About someone else, the idiom can sound critical or suggest resignation. In a factual report, you can say directly who stopped the attempt.
Three practice tasks
Try each task before opening the explanation.
What does Nach vier Fehlversuchen hat sie das Handtuch geworfen mean?
Answer and explanation
Sie hat aufgegeben.
She stops trying after the failed attempts.
Complete the perfect tense: Er hat das Handtuch ___.
Answer and explanation
geworfen
The participle of werfen is geworfen.
A group is continuing tomorrow. Which statement explicitly says so?
Answer and explanation
Wir machen eine Pause und versuchen es morgen wieder.
People who will start again tomorrow are taking a break.
What to remember
Das Handtuch werfen means to give up. A person taking a break and planning to try again has not thrown in the towel.