# not win for losing

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/not-win-for-losing
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To repeatedly fail in one's gambles or efforts.

## Examples

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

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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.