admit defeat

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.
See also: admit, defeat
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • defeat
  • in pursuit of
  • in pursuit of (someone or something)
  • be in pursuit
  • pursuit
  • be in pursuit of (someone or something)
  • encourage
  • encourage (one) in (something)
  • encourage in
  • put (one) off the track
References in periodicals archive
Brown and the other political game show hosts should admit defeat and let's hope 206 troops sacrificed are enough to reach common sense, and not 1206 troops.
Fighting a war we can't win; Letters
SUNDERLAND manager Roy Keane will begin a new search for defensive reinforcements after being forced to admit defeat in his pursuit of Younes Kaboul.
2 DAYS IN 2 MINUTES: Sport
Teams of volunteers battled against the clock in an attempt to clear the water and rescue Sunday for the expected capacity crowd but by Saturday afternoon they had to admit defeat
Rain causes Air Tattoo washout
And according to a national newspaper, the 34-year-old - who has not appeared in any of United's matches so far this season - will finally admit defeat in his long-running battle with injury and call it a day.
Injury sees Solskjaer call it quits at United
The 34-year-old - who has not appeared in any of the Red Devils' matches so far this season - will finally admit defeat in his fight
Football: Injury forces Devils ace to retire
But the Blues boss may have to admit defeat in his attempts to persuade fellow Egyptian Mido to follow suit.
Football: Ghaly set to seal switch to Blues; BLUES NEWS
General Sir Michael Rose also said Britain and the US should "admit defeat" and withdraw.
Harry's Iraq tour delayed
The Elland Road club have had to admit defeat in their bid to sign Stern John but Kevin Blackwell is desperate to land Albion's unsettled star.
Football: Leeds hot on Gregan trail
Heart problems put paid to Ugandan international Livingstone's (above) career while O'Neill's frustrating battle with a back complaint finally forced him to admit defeat and lock away his boots for good.
Walshy: All the best to top duo
Could it be reluctance to admit defeat in the battle of the elements?
Gramps from yesteryear: destination or bust. (Fire and Ice)
Barnet boss John Still said: "We battled hard and will never give up and never admit defeat."
Devine touch
Her conclusion that former inmates "decided" on conformity cannot convey the complexity of her subjects' emotional lives, their need to please as well as to shock, to boast as well as to admit defeat and seek solace.
The "Girl Problem": Female Sexual Delinquency in New York, 1900-1930
Resin suppliers generally had to admit defeat in their most recent attempts to raise prices of PET, PP and PS.
More hikes fail, a few succeed
FULHAM must admit defeat in their bid to sign West Ham forward Ravel Morrison, at least in the short-term, according to boss Rene Meulensteen.
Ful miss Morrison
However, it's time to pack away my bucket and spade and admit defeat.
GETTING IT OFF MY CHEST; What's been getting Birchy's goat this week