throw in the towel

It’s a way of throwing in the towel, waving the white flag, wishing for the mercy rule used in youth baseball.

I almost threw in the towel a few times.

Another trusty left hook landed clean on Dubois' chin and his corner threw in the towel as the referee reached the count of nine.

At the same time, the 26-year-old's corner threw in the towel.

But this time it was beyond him with Cacace ruthlessly closing the show as Wood's corner threw in the towel just as it seemed referee John Latham was about to wave it off.