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The English we speak.

From BBC Learning English.

Hello and welcome'm Neil.

Do you know what Faye Faye I've had enough?

You've had enough? You've had enough?

Enough of what?

Trying to do all my washing. Really? Is it that hard?

It is. I just can't keep up with all the clothes I have to wash, dry and iron.

It doesn't matter how much washing I do, I keep running out of clean clothes.

Yes, I can see. Haven't you been wearing that shirt all week?

So, what are you going to do?

I don't know. I think I'll just throw in the towel.

Uh, washing just one towel won't help. You can't wear that to work.

That's not what I meant. To throw in the towel is a saying that means to admit defeat.

The phrase comes from boxing. If a boxer is being hit too much and is losing the fight,

sometimes his coach will throw a towel into the boxing ring to signal the fight is over.

He's been defeated.

Got it.

So it means you've given up.

You can't do it.

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