To ask for mercy, to surrender, or to admit defeat in a situation. It originates from the times of Spanish conquerors, who used to force indigenous people to work for them in cocoa plantations. When the workers were tired or couldn't handle it anymore, they 'pedían cacao' or asked for cacao, as a sign of wanting to stop.
Examples
- Spanish: No pudo más con el entrenamiento y tuvo que pedir cacao.
- English: He couldn't handle the training anymore and had to throw in the towel.