Idioms

fight a losing battle

This page is about the idiom 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

a. fight

b. win

c. lose
a) fight b) win c) lose

Learn idioms easily with
Common English Idioms PDF ebook!

Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey