fight a losing battle

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

fight a losing battle (third-person singular simple present fights a losing battle, present participle fighting a losing battle, simple past and past participle fought a losing battle)

1. (literally) To continue to wage war when it is clear that one is not going to win.
2. (idiomatic, figuratively) To attempt a task or other endeavor in which there is no chance that it will succeed.
   • 1984, Lucy Gore, Diary Of A Working Mum, page 18:

     The bus was oppressively warm and the air-conditioning was fighting a losing battle with the heat.

Synonyms

• fight a rearguard action