cede the field

verb2

1. •
   To withdraw from a military confrontation; to yield control of a battlefield to one's opponent.
2. •
   To withdraw from any confrontational or potentially confrontational situation; to avoid participating in a competition or contest.

   • And what will happen to Windows Phone? […] One can't imagine that Ballmer will call it a day and cede the field to Google and Apple. — 2013