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Question

Difficulty: MediumIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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

Answer:Despite facing severe financial setbacks, the managing director refused to throw in the 【towel】 and continued to negotiate with potential investors.

Answer

towel (or sponge)
The correct word is 'towel' (or 'sponge'), forming the fixed idiomatic phrase 'to throw in the towel', which means to acknowledge defeat or surrender in a struggle.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the idiomatic context
The sentence describes a situation where someone is suffering defeat or failure but refuses to surrender or give up.
The surrounding text 'refused to... and continued to negotiate' signals that the idiom means to admit defeat.
2
Complete the fixed idiomatic expression
The established English idiom is 'to throw in the towel' (or 'throw in the sponge').
This expression originates from boxing, where throwing a towel into the ring signifies surrender.

Key Concept

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
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Topics

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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