to give up, to throw in the towel, to abandon (a difficult task/person)

💡 Nuance & Usage: Idiomatic expression. Implies giving up due to difficulty or hopelessness, often after trying for a while. It can be used for a task, a problem, or even a person (like a student who won't learn). 「匙を投げる」は、困難な状況や解決不可能な問題に対し、努力をあきらめてしまうことを意味する慣用句です。