throw in the cards

English

Verb

throw in the cards (third-person singular simple present throws in the cards, present participle throwing in the cards, simple past threw in the cards, past participle thrown in the cards)

1. Synonym of throw in the towel
   • 1978 December 9, Mitzel, “Post-Briggs Blues”, in Gay Community News, volume 6, number 20, page 5:

     Sure. Comforting news. If that's the extent of the left's imagination, we may as well throw in the cards and admit defeat and go en masse to sign up at our nearest Anita Bryant Treatment Center!