“Throwing in the towel” (摆烂):

In Chinese, it is pronounced as: bǎi làn，Written as:

The term “throwing in the towel” refers to when things can no longer progress in a positive direction, and instead of taking action, one lets things deteriorate further. In simpler terms, it’s like saying, “Since it’s already a mess, just let it keep getting worse,” akin to “throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”

The phrase “throwing in the towel” originally appeared in the context of the NBA in the United States. In the NBA, it refers to some teams deliberately losing games to secure a lower ranking, with the aim of obtaining a better draft pick the following summer. This strategy allows them to acquire promising young players to enhance the team’s strength. Thus, even though they lose in the short term, it benefits the long-term team development.

In personal life, “throwing in the towel” is often used to describe a passive, indifferent attitude. For example, when faced with difficulties or bottlenecks at work or in studies, some might choose not to exert effort to solve the problems, allowing things to unfold as they will. Many people use “throwing in the towel” to self-mockingly express their lack of desire or inability to strive for change when faced with unwelcome circumstances. This usage carries a sense of humor and is commonly seen on social media and in conversations.

For some, “throwing in the towel” is a philosophy of life, a choice to accept reality and let go when certain expectations are unattainable, thereby reducing inner turmoil and anxiety.