give (something) up as a bad job

to stop doing something because you do not feel it is worth continuing.

After three attempts to explain the joke I gave it up as a bad job.

• bush league
• bush telegraph
• business as usual
• business end
• business end of
• business end of something
• business is business
• busman's holiday
• bust a blood vessel
• bust a gut
• bust a gut laughing
• bust ass
• bust balls
• bust your ass
• bust your balls
• but not in the biblical sense
• but on the other
• but on the other hand
• but still and all
• butter someone up
• butter up
• butter wouldn't melt in mouth
• butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth
• but that's another story
• but then again