Sometimes, we feel like we can’t do something anymore. Maybe it’s a hard game, a tricky math problem, or even a long school project. When people stop trying, they sometimes say things in special ways. These are called idioms. Idioms are fun phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say, but they help us understand how someone feels.
In this article, you will learn idioms people use when they feel like giving up. These phrases can sound silly or creative, but they all share the same idea — stopping something because it feels too hard or tiring. You’ll also see examples to help you understand how to use them. Let’s learn these phrases and see how people talk about giving up in different ways.
Idioms for Giving Up
1. Throw in the towel
Meaning: To stop trying because something is too hard.
Example: I threw in the towel after trying to fix my toy all afternoon. / She threw in the towel when her team kept losing.
Put Differently: I gave up. / She stopped trying.
2. Give up the ghost
Meaning: To quit or stop working, often because you’re too tired.
Example: My old laptop gave up the ghost during homework. / I gave up the ghost after three hours of practicing.
Put Differently: It stopped working. / I couldn’t do it anymore.
3. Call it quits
Meaning: To decide to stop doing something.
Example: We called it quits after the board game went too long. / They called it quits on their group project.
Put Differently: We stopped. / They decided not to continue.
4. Wave the white flag
Meaning: To show that you are giving up.
Example: He waved the white flag when he couldn’t beat the level. / I waved the white flag on my tricky puzzle.
Put Differently: He gave up. / I stopped trying.
5. Hang it up
Meaning: To stop doing something for good.
Example: I decided to hang it up after my last soccer season. / She hung it up when painting didn’t feel fun anymore.
Put Differently: I stopped playing. / She quit.
6. Pack it in
Meaning: To stop doing something and go home.
Example: We packed it in after the rain ruined our picnic. / I packed it in when the game froze.
Put Differently: We stopped and left. / I gave up and shut it down.
7. Fold like a lawn chair
Meaning: To give up easily when something gets hard.
Example: He folded like a lawn chair during the spelling test. / She folded like a lawn hair after her team missed the shot.
Put Differently: He quit fast. / She didn’t keep trying.
8. Quit cold turkey
Meaning: To stop something suddenly and completely.
Example: I quit cold turkey from playing video games every night. / She quit soda cold turkey.
Put Differently: I stopped right away. / She gave it up fast.
9. Burn out
Meaning: To feel too tired or stressed to keep going.
Example: I burned out after three hours of studying. / He burned out during practice.
Put Differently: I got too tired. / He couldn’t keep going.
10. Drop out
Meaning: To leave something before it’s done.
Example: He dropped out of the contest. / I dropped out of the play because I was too nervous.
Put Differently: He didn’t finish. / I decided to stop.
11. Call it a day
Meaning: To stop working for now.
Example: We called it a day after finishing our art project. / I called it a day after one hour of homework.
Put Differently: We stopped for now. / I’m done for today.
12. Leave it be
Meaning: To stop bothering with something.
Example: I left the puzzle be when it got too hard. / She left her drawing be.
Put Differently: I didn’t try anymore. / She gave up for now.
13. Back down
Meaning: To stop fighting or trying to win.
Example: He backed down from the game when he saw he might lose. / I backed down from the argument.
Put Differently: He quit. / I gave up arguing.
14. Throw one’s hands up
Meaning: To show that you are frustrated and done.
Example: I threw my hands up when I couldn’t solve the math problem. / Mom threw her hands up after cleaning all day.
Put Differently: I gave up. / She was done trying.
15. Turn tail
Meaning: To leave quickly when things get tough.
Example: He turned tail when the game got scary. / I turned tail during the spelling bee.
Put Differently: He ran away. / I gave up fast.
16. Give in
Meaning: To stop trying to fight or argue.
Example: I gave in and let my brother pick the movie. / She gave in during the game.
Put Differently: I stopped fighting. / She didn’t try anymore.
17. Lose heart
Meaning: To feel like you can’t do it anymore.
Example: He lost heart after missing three shots. / I lost heart during the test.
Put Differently: He gave up. / I didn’t think I could do it.
18. Hit a wall
Meaning: To suddenly feel like you can’t go any further.
Example: I hit a wall in my writing. / She hit a wall in the race.
Put Differently: I couldn’t go on. / She felt stuck.
19. Surrender
Meaning: To stop trying and accept defeat.
Example: I surrendered to the hard puzzle. / He surrendered in chess.
Put Differently: I gave up. / He stopped fighting.
20. Step down
Meaning: To leave a job or role.
Example: She stepped down as class leader. / I stepped down from my part in the play.
Put Differently: She quit. / I gave up my role.
21. Cut losses
Meaning: To stop something that isn’t working to avoid more trouble.
Example: We cut our losses and left the carnival early. / I cut my losses on that toy.
Put Differently: We stopped before it got worse. / I gave up on it.
22. Walk away
Meaning: To leave a hard or upsetting situation.
Example: I walked away from the argument. / She walked away from the game.
Put Differently: I quit. / She didn’t want to keep playing.
23. Pull the plug
Meaning: To stop something completely.
Example: They pulled the plug on the field trip. / I pulled the plug on my project.
Put Differently: They canceled it. / I stopped working on it.
24. Fall flat
Meaning: To fail badly and stop trying.
Example: My idea fell flat and I stopped talking. / Her joke fell flat.
Put Differently: It didn’t work. / She gave up after that.
25. Let it go
Meaning: To stop caring or worrying about something.
Example: I let go of the problem after bedtime. / She let it go after losing.
Put Differently: I stopped thinking about it. / She moved on.
26. Be done with it
Meaning: To finish or quit something for good.
Example: I was done with it after the mess. / He was done with the puzzle.
Put Differently: I gave up. / He stopped trying.
27. Give up
Meaning: To stop trying.
Example: I gave up on my drawing. / He gave up in the middle of the game.
Put Differently: I didn’t keep going. / He quit.
28. Hit the brakes
Meaning: To slow down or stop.
Example: We hit the brakes on our big idea. / I hit the brakes during the race.
Put Differently: We stopped. / I slowed down a lot.
29. Step aside
Meaning: To move out of the way or quit.
Example: I stepped aside to let someone else try. / She stepped aside from being group leader.
Put Differently: I let someone else do it. / She quit.
30. Walk off
Meaning: To leave something you don’t want to deal with.
Example: He walked off during practice. / She walked off from her chores.
Put Differently: He gave up. / She didn’t finish.
31. Put it down
Meaning: To stop doing something.
Example: I put down the book after a few pages. / She put down her pencil and stopped writing.
Put Differently: I stopped reading. / She quit writing.
32. Take a step back
Meaning: To pause or stop for a while.
Example: I took a step back from my science project. / He took a step back from soccer.
Put Differently: I needed a break. / He stopped for now.
33. Let it slide
Meaning: To not worry about something anymore.
Example: I let it slide when he cut in line. / She let it slide after the bad grade.
Put Differently: I didn’t get upset. / She moved on.
34. Be at the end of one’s rope
Meaning: To feel like you can’t try anymore.
Example: I was at the end of my rope with my messy locker. / She was at the end of her rope during the group project.
Put Differently: I had enough. / She couldn’t take it anymore.
35. Run out of steam
Meaning: To get too tired to continue.
Example: I ran out of steam during gym class. / He ran out of steam while reading.
Put Differently: I got too tired. / He couldn’t go on.
36. Throw in the sponge
Meaning: Another way to say giving up.
Example: I threw in the sponge on my messy room. / He threw in the sponge on learning guitar.
Put Differently: I quit. / He stopped trying.
37. Say uncle
Meaning: To admit you can’t do it anymore.
Example: I said uncle during arm wrestling. / She said uncle when the puzzle was too hard.
Put Differently: I gave up. / She quit.
38. Be over it
Meaning: To stop caring or wanting to do it.
Example: I was over it after waiting so long. / He was over the game after losing twice.
Put Differently: I didn’t want to do it. / He gave up.
39. Stop short
Meaning: To quit suddenly.
Example: I stopped short of finishing the race. / She stopped short of asking for help.
Put Differently: I didn’t finish. / She gave up fast.
40. Chicken out
Meaning: To not do something because you’re scared.
Example: I chickened out of the talent show. / He chickened out of talking in class.
Put Differently: I got too scared. / He didn’t do it.
“Rewrite the Sentence’’ Activity Idioms for Giving Up
Below are 10 simple sentences that show someone is feeling like giving up. Each sentence does not use an idiom.
Your job is to rewrite each sentence using one of the idioms for giving up. Make sure the new sentence sounds natural.
Rewrite the Sentence
- I got tired of the puzzle and didn’t want to finish.
- He felt too stressed and stopped working on the science project.
- She was scared to sing and left the stage.
- My team was losing, so we decided to stop the game.
- I didn’t want to argue anymore, so I stayed quiet.
- After so many tries, I couldn’t keep going with my painting.
- He felt embarrassed and left the classroom.
- I gave up on cleaning my messy room.
- She didn’t want to be group leader anymore.
- He was tired of waiting for his turn.
Answer Key
- I threw in the towel on the puzzle.
- He burned out and stopped working on the science project.
- She chickened out and left the stage.
- We waved the white flag and stopped the game.
- I gave in and stayed quiet.
- I hit a wall and couldn’t keep going with my painting.
- He walked off because he felt embarrassed.
- I was over it and gave up on cleaning my room.
- She stepped down from being group leader.
- He called it quits after waiting too long.
Conclusion
Sometimes, things feel too hard or take too long. When that happens, people use special phrases to say they are done trying. These phrases are called idioms. They don’t mean exactly what the words say, but they help show how someone feels.
Now you know many idioms people use when they want to give up. These phrases can help you understand others
