# throw good money after bad

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/throw-good-money-after-bad
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To waste money in a fruitless attempt to recoup losses previously incurred.

## Examples

- Don't throw good money after bad by fixing that old car.
- The project is failing, so stop throwing good money after bad and cut your losses now.
- Investors often struggle to admit defeat, choosing instead to throw good money after bad in a desperate attempt to salvage their original investment.

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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.