fight a losing battle
idiom
: to try to do something that one will not be able to do
I've been trying to organize this mess, but I think I'm fighting a losing battle.
Examples of fight a losing battle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Huntington Beach continues to fight a losing battle to evade state laws that require it to permit more housing.
—
The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 24 Dec. 2025
Veteran party leaders insist that returning to the House floor to fight a losing battle is their best option.
—Dallas News, 22 Aug. 2021
Left to fight a losing battle in the Republican Party, as the recent CPAC confirmed, the withering pro-democracy faction is up against frightening odds.
—Time, 19 Mar. 2021
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The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 24 Dec. 2025
Veteran party leaders insist that returning to the House floor to fight a losing battle is their best option.
—Dallas News, 22 Aug. 2021
Left to fight a losing battle in the Republican Party, as the recent CPAC confirmed, the withering pro-democracy faction is up against frightening odds.
—Time, 19 Mar. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Fight a losing battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fight%20a%20losing%20battle. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
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