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Difficulty: MediumIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

Which word correctly completes the idiomatic expression in the sentence below?

Answer:Faced with mounting financial losses and unanimous disapproval from the board of directors, the managing director was forced to throw in the 【towel】.

Answer

The word that completes the idiomatic expression is 'towel' (or 'sponge').
The idiomatic expression 'throw in the towel' (or 'throw in the sponge') means to quit, surrender, or admit defeat in the face of insurmountable difficulty.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contextual meaning of the scenario described in the sentence.
The managing director is surrendering or admitting defeat due to overwhelming hardship and disapproval.
Contextual clues like 'mounting financial losses' and 'unanimous disapproval' indicate an inescapable failure.
2
Identify the standard English idiomatic phrase corresponding to admitting defeat.
The fixed idiomatic expression is 'to throw in the towel' (or historically, 'throw in the sponge').
This idiom originates from combat sports like boxing, where throwing a towel into the ring signifies submission.

Key Concept

Idiomatic Expressions and Fixed Metaphorical Phrasings
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Topics

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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