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.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fight a losing battle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near fight a losing battle

fightable

fight a losing battle

fight back

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Style

“Fight a losing battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fight%20a%20losing%20battle. Accessed 30 May. 2023.

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