# hiding to nothing

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hiding-to-nothing
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A situation in which victory has little or no value, but defeat has a huge cost.

## Examples

- Trying to win that argument is a hiding to nothing.
- The manager knew that taking on the project with such a small budget was a hiding to nothing.
- By challenging the board of directors without any evidence, the young executive realized he was on a hiding to nothing and quietly withdrew his proposal.

## Origin

The phrase originates from the vocabulary of British horse racing, where a hiding signifies a thorough beating. The structure employs the preposition to in the manner of gambling odds, such as six to one, suggesting a wager where the stakes are particularly poorly calculated. The literal logic of the expression describes a contest in which the participant stands to gain nothing from a victory but is guaranteed a hiding in the event of failure. It is frequently applied to a heavily favoured sporting team whose success is dismissed as a foregone conclusion and whose defeat is treated as a professional humiliation. Under such conditions, one is said to be on a hiding to nothing. (disputed)

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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.