单词本：to throw in the towel

在一本叫 Master Mentors 的书中读到：There is differentiating value in continuing to work on a worthy problem and persistently ‘figure things out’ even when others are ready to throw in the towel, give up or walk away.

意思是说，差异化的价值体现在是否能够坚持不懈地在一个有价值的难题上坚持不懈的持续做下去，哪怕别人投降认输、放弃、走开。

这里用到了 to throw in the towel 表示弃甲曳兵认输投降。这个说法源自拳击运动，原本指拳击运动员的教练向擂台里扔毛巾以示认输的做法。现在的用法泛指经过尝试经过努力，意识到自己还是办不到，只好放弃咯。to stop trying to do something because you have realized that you cannot succeed.

再举几个例子：

Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips ’won’t be ready to throw in the towel’ at the Etihad Stadium, journalist Pete O’Rourke has told GIVEMESPORT on 7 May 2023.

Airbnb Q1 Earnings: I Am Not Throwing The Towel.

人生很难啊，遇到久攻不破的难题，到底是继续死磕到底呢，还是丢巾投降？这是个问题。