English Reference
Idiom idiom

not win for losing


To repeatedly fail in one's gambles or efforts.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

I try to fix one problem, but I cannot win for losing.

CONTEXTUAL

Every time I fix the leaky pipe, a new one bursts, and I feel like I cannot win for losing.

COMPLEX

Despite his meticulous efforts to stabilize the failing project, he found himself in a situation where he could not win for losing, as every corrective measure only invited further disaster.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    be someone's to lose

    To be anticipated to be won by someone.

  2. 02

    fight a losing battle

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

  3. 03

    lose face

    To lose the respect of others; to be humiliated or experience public disgrace.

  4. 04

    lose ground

    To suffer loss or disadvantage; to experience a setback.

  5. 05

    lose it

    To lose control of a situation.

  6. 06

    lose one's battle

    To succumb to a serious illness.

  7. 07

    lose one's bottle

    To lose courage and determination.

  8. 08

    lose one's cool

    To become upset or disconcerted; to lose one's temper.

Last updated August 10, 2026