Etimologia e História de throw in the towel

"admitir a derrota," 1901 (inglês australiano), um uso figurado do boxe. Anteriormente, no sentido literal de ringue, como 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]

[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, 1895]