Bajar los brazos

to give up; **to give up**; **to throw in the towel**; **to lose heart**; **to surrender**; **to quit**

Bajar los brazos means to give up, to lose heart, to stop trying, to surrender, or to admit defeat.

It refers to abandoning an effort because one no longer believes success is possible.

• gives up on a goal
• stops fighting against difficulties
• loses motivation
• abandons a project
• resigns themselves to failure

The expression comes from the physical gesture of lowering one's arms during a struggle.

In combat, manual labour or sport, raised arms symbolise effort, defence and determination.

Lowering them naturally came to represent surrender or the decision to stop fighting.

The metaphor is simple, universal and immediately understandable.

The expression almost always has a positive counterpart:

No bajar los brazos.

This is a very common phrase in Spain and Latin America, especially in speeches, interviews and sports reporting, encouraging perseverance despite adversity.

Spanish has several expressions connected with perseverance and surrender:

• Bajar los brazos → to give up.
• No bajar los brazos → never give up.
• Tirar la toalla → to throw in the towel.
• Seguir al pie del cañón → to keep going despite difficulties.

Among them, bajar los brazos is perhaps the most universal because its metaphor of lowered arms is instantly understood across cultures and applies equally well to personal, professional, sporting and emotional struggles.

Do not translate the expression literally.

English speakers would not normally say:

Don't lower your arms.

unless referring to a physical action.

Instead, use expressions such as:

• Don't give up.
• Don't lose heart.
• Keep fighting.
• Don't throw in the towel.

Choose the translation according to the tone.