can't win

phrase

informal
used to say that success is not possible for someone in a particular situation
I feel like I can't win. Nothing I do seems to make any difference.
You can't win when you're dealing with someone so unreasonable.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Can't win.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/can%27t%20win. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster