Herkunft und Geschichte von throw in the towel

"Niederlage eingestehen," 1901 (Australisches Englisch), eine bildliche Verwendung aus dem Boxen. Früher, im wörtlichen Ring-Sinn, als throw the towel (1907), throw up the towel (1894).

[A trainer] was so impressed by the fact that Sharkey was knocked out that after the sailor was down six seconds he started to throw up his towel to indicate Sharkey's surrender. [news wire account of testimony in Fitsimmons-Sharkey case, December 11, 1896]