French Expression · Intermediate
Jeter l'éponge
To throw in the towel
Pronunciation: zhe-TÉ l'é-PONZH
Meaning
To give up on something after trying to achieve it.
Example
Après plusieurs tentatives infructueuses, il a décidé de jeter l'éponge.
After several unsuccessful attempts, he decided to throw in the towel.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice Jeter l'éponge out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a intermediate-level French expression.