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  • Feifei: Hello, and welcome to The English We Speak.

  • I'm Feifei.

  • Neil: And I'm Neil.

  • Hey, do you know what, Feifei?

  • I've had enough!

  • Feifei: You've had enough? Enough of what?

  • Neil: Trying to do all my washing.

  • Feifei: Really? Is it that hard?

  • Neil: 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.

  • Feifei: Yes I can see!

  • Haven't you been wearing that shirt all week?

  • So, what are you going to do?

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

  • Feifei: Washing just one towel won't help

  • you can't wear that to work.

  • Neil: 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.

  • Feifei: Got it!

  • So, it means you've given up.

  • You can't do it.

  • And for you, it means no clean clothes!

  • Let's hear some more examples of this phrase,

  • shall we?

  • Examples: I've tried my best

  • but this job is just too hard

  • – I'm afraid I'm going to have to throw in the towel

  • and quit.

  • I know the race is tough,

  • but don't throw in the towel,

  • keep going and you might actually win!

  • I've been trying to learn Korean for years

  • but I'm not making any progress

  • so I guess it's time to throw in the towel.

  • Feifei: This is The English We Speak,

  • and Neil's mentioned he's 'throwing in the towel'

  • which means he's 'admitting defeat'

  • giving up on doing his washing.

  • You can't cope can you Neil?

  • Neil: I have tried. There's just too much to do.

  • Feifei: Maybe you've got too many clothes.

  • But if you're not going to wash them,

  • what are you going to wear?

  • Neil: I've still got my nightclub gear I used to

  • wear as a studentwill that do?

  • Feifei: I think you'd be better off just wearing a

  • towel, Neil!

  • Neil: Thanks for the fashion advice.

  • I think my best option

  • is just to take everything to the launderette.

  • Feifei: Good idea. See you.

  • Neil: Bye!

Feifei: Hello, and welcome to The English We Speak.

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