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Vocabulary : Idioms : F : fight a losing battle

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fight a losing battle

Meaning: If you fight a losing battle, you try to do something even though it can't be done.

For example:

  • Some people think that any government that tries to stop people from taking illegal drugs is fighting a losing battle.

  • Sophia is doing everything she can to keep herself looking young, but in the end she'll be fighting a losing battle, of course.

Note: This idiom is usually used in one of the continuous tenses, such as "was fighting a losing battle" or "is fighting a losing battle" or "has been fighting a losing battle", and so on.

Quick Quiz:

If you're fighting a losing battle, there's no way you can
  1. fight
  2. win
  3. lose

Discuss: fight a losing battle

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