fight a losing battle
(redirected from he fought losing battles)fight a losing battle
To try persistently and with great effort to do or achieve something that is ultimately doomed to fail. You're fighting a losing battle if you think you can convince Sarah to go to college. It looks like I'm fighting a losing battle trying to get a raise from my boss.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
fight a ˌlosing ˈbattle
try without success to achieve or prevent something: I’m fighting a losing battle with my weight. I can’t lose any. ♢ The police are fighting a losing battle against car theft.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
losing battle, (to fight) a
A hopeless undertaking that is nevertheless continued. See lost cause.
See also: losing
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer