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.
匙を投げる literally means “throw the spoon”.
Origins
The traditional explanation traces the phrase to doctors who mixed medicine with a spoon. Putting the spoon aside meant that further treatment seemed hopeless.
The modern phrase applies to any problem that someone has stopped trying to solve.
Usage Notes
Use it when someone:
- abandons a task because it seems impossible
- stops trying to help a person
- gives up on a relationship or project
It suggests resignation after repeated attempts have failed. English equivalents include “throw in the towel” and “wash one’s hands of it”. 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.Examples
Giving up catching a cat with 匙を投げる
