# fight a losing battle

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/fight-a-losing-battle
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To attempt a task or other endeavor in which there is no chance that it will succeed.

## Examples

- He is fighting a losing battle trying to fix that old car.
- The company is fighting a losing battle against its much larger competitors in the market.
- Despite his best efforts to restore the crumbling foundation, he realized he was fighting a losing battle against the relentless passage of time.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.