interpretations are given. choose the interpretation that is most appropriate After several attempts to claim…

Analyze the question: You are asked for the meaning of the idiom "threw in the towel" in the context of a person who made several attempts to claim a child.

Explain the concept: The idiom "throw in the towel" comes from boxing. A boxer's trainer throws a towel into the ring to signal that the fighter is giving up. So the idiom means to surrender, quit, or admit defeat.

Solution, step by step:

1. The sentence says "After several attempts to claim the child", so he tried more than once.
2. The word "After" suggests that those attempts did not work out.
3. "He threw in the towel" means he stopped trying because he realised he could not win.

Checking the options:

• A. succeeded finally: Wrong. Throwing in the towel is the opposite of success.
• B. accepted defeat: Correct. He gave up after his efforts failed.
• C. gained confidence: Wrong. Nothing in the idiom suggests growing confidence.
• D. became indifferent: Not quite. Being indifferent means not caring. Someone who throws in the towel may still care deeply but has simply admitted they cannot win.

Answer: B. accepted defeat

Exam tip: For idiom questions, remember the origin of the expression. Picture the boxing ring, and "throw in the towel" will always mean "give up". Related idioms include "back to square one" (start over) and "bite the bullet" (face something difficult bravely). Practise these, as WASSCE and JAMB love them.