Giving up with 匙を投げる
匙を投げる means “to give up” or “to throw in the towel”. It describes abandoning an effort or responsibility because the situation seems hopeless or too difficult to handle.
The idiom 匙を投げる literally means “to throw the spoon”, but carries the figurative meaning of giving up on something.
Origins
This expression originates from medical practice in earlier times. When doctors would compound medicine by hand using a spoon (匙), throwing away the spoon symbolized abandoning treatment because the patient’s condition was beyond help.
Today, the meaning has broadened beyond medical contexts to describe giving up on any difficult situation or challenge.
Usage Notes
The phrase is commonly used in situations where:
- Someone abandons a task or responsibility because it seems impossible
- A person stops trying to help or deal with someone/something
- Someone gives up on a relationship, project, or endeavor
The expression carries a nuance of resignation in the face of difficulty, similar to English expressions like “throw in the towel” and “wash one’s hands of it”.
Dictionary Definition
治療の見込みがないとして、医者が薬の調合を放棄する。転じて、どうにもならないと諦めて努力をやめる。手を引く。
A doctor abandons compounding medicine when there is no hope of treatment. By extension, to stop making an effort because the situation seems hopeless. To wash one's hands of something.
Claude Sonnet 4.5
Examples
Giving up catching a cat with 匙を投げる
Eve takes the job of catching a cat that ran away from its owner. Following a successful mid-air catch off the roof and into a tree, Eve returns the cat to its owner.
- お城ちゃん:
- 「よかったぁ うちの仔すばしっこすぎて業者さんに匙投げられて…」
- “Thank goodness! Our little one was so quick that the hired help gave up on us...”
- 「ありがとう 魔女さん」
- “Thank you, Miss Mage.”
- “Thank goodness! Our little one was so quick that the hired help gave up on us...”