1. Stop trying or participating; admit defeat
   - drop out, give up, fall by the wayside, drop by the wayside, throw in, throw in the towel [informal], quit

Derived forms: chucking up the sponge, chucks up the sponge, chucked up the sponge

Type of: break, break off, cease, discontinue, give up, lay off, quit, stop, surcease [archaic]