win (redirected from wins out)

earn/win your spurs

to do something to show that you deserve a particular position and have the skills needed for it. He won his political spurs fighting hospital closures during his time as a local councillor in Bristol.

See also: earn, spur

May the best man win.

something that you say just before a competition starts to say that you hope the person who deserves to win will win. Is everyone ready? Then may the best man win.

See also: best, man, may

a no-win situation

a difficult situation in which whatever happens the result will be bad for the people involved. I'm in a no-win situation here. Whatever I do, I'm going to annoy someone.

See also: situation

win (something) hands down

to win easily. She won the debate hands down.

See also: down, hand

win the day

if you win the day, you persuade people to support your ideas or opinions, or if a particular idea wins the day, it is accepted by a group of people. By the end of the meeting it became clear that the radicals had won the day. I was pleased to hear that common sense had won the day and the proposal had been accepted.

See also: day

You can't win 'em all. (informal, informal)

something that you say which means it is not possible to succeed at every thing you do. I'm a bit disappointed I didn't get the job. Oh well, you can't win 'em all. Obviously I would have liked first prize but you win some, you lose some.

See also: , all, can't

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a no-win situation

a condition in which all possible results are bad for the people involved. If she doesn't do anything, the North Side will be unhappy, and if she does do something, the South Side will be unhappy. Either way she's in a no-win situation.

See also: situation

win out

to succeed after great effort. In the end, greed won out over doing the right thing.

win someone/something over

to succeed in changing opinion. The senator made a stirring speech but failed to win over enough votes to pass his bill. The argument she used to win them over was not about who was right and who was wrong.

See also: over

win the day

to achieve complete success. New products grab headlines, but useful products that give good value often win the day.

See also: day