admit defeat

(redirected from admitting defeat)
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admit defeat

To yield to the opposition or accept that one is wrong in some pursuit. Well, I ran a good campaign, but it is time I admitted defeat in this election. A: "I asked him for a raise, but he said no." B: "You admit defeat too easily, Charlie. You've got to stand up for yourself and argue why you deserve that raise!" After trying their hand in the smartphone market for just a few years, the company is already admitting defeat after finding very little success.
See also: admit, defeat
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive ?
Frances-Anne says Paul argued with the voice system for 10 minutes before admitting defeat.
Renfrewshire Council has been forced to write off nearly PS200,000 of debts after admitting defeat in claiming back the cash.
Ministers are admitting defeat in red squirrel fight
Radcliffe formally withdrew from the women's marathon at London 2012 after admitting defeat in her battle against a degenerative foot problem, which cruelly resurfaced just a few weeks ago.
But there was no Gordon in the squad, with GB Basketball finally admitting defeat in their efforts to get the NBA star on board, having held a spot open for him until the last minute despite his failure to report to camp.
Shaw was forced to adjourn Tuesday's EGM for 10 minutes to conduct an emergency Board meeting before admitting defeat and abandoning it.
Was the Everton manager finally admitting defeat? Was he trying to play down expectations which soared dangerously and damagingly high at the start of last season?
The driver, Frank Barker, pulled over when he saw smoke and tried to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher before admitting defeat due to the size of the blaze.
But after admitting defeat, Eriksson will now place his trust in Schmeichel, whose dad Peter is an Old Trafford great.
Indiana couple Dawn and Charlotte Egler want people to know "we're in no way admitting defeat" after their decision not to appeal a January court ruling against their challenge to the state's ban on stone-sex marriage.
CHELSEA have turned their attentions to Monaco defender Sebastien Squillaci after admitting defeat in their bid to lure Argentine Walter Samuel.
GORAN IVANISEVIC yesterday pulled out of the defence of his Wimbledon title after admitting defeat in his battle to overcome a long-standing shoulder injury.
Admitting defeat, the space agency has no further plans to listen for the lander.
Labour made big gains but leader Kim Beazley was admitting defeat.
Paul and Frances-anne Frances-anne says Paul argued with the voice system for 10 minutes before admitting defeat.