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Phrases related to: fight a losing battle

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a man hasn’t lost when he’s fallen down, he’s lost when he’s too weak to get back upit explains that giving up is losingRate it:

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à moitié fait qui commence bienWell begun is half done; A good beginning is half the battle.Rate it:

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a pyrrhic victoryAn apparent victory, but one which is no victory at all, due to the great cost incurred. The phrase comes from the victory won by King Pyrrhus at Asculum in 279BC which cost him many of his best men. After the battle Pyrrhus remarked: "One more such victory and we are finished."Rate it:

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a smoke screenEarly sea battles demonstrated the value of gun smoke and smoke from burning ships to hide one battleship from one belonging to the enemy. Later, smoke was generated prior to commencing battle so as to make it more difficult for gun crews to spot the targeted vessel. This tactic became known as a smoke screen.Rate it:

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acie (armis, ferro) decernereto fight a pitched battle.Rate it:

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aciem (copias, exercitum) instruere or in acie constituereto draw up forces in battle-order.Rate it:

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aciem explicare or dilatareto extend the line of battle, deploy the battalions.Rate it:

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acies inclīnat or inclīnatur (Liv. 7. 33)the line of battle gives way.Rate it:

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agmine quadrato incedere, ireto march with closed ranks, in order of battle.Rate it:

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all-out brawlA brutal fight without honor, often referring to spontaneous conflicts that erupt in a public place like a bar.Rate it:

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ancipiti Marte pugnaturthe issue of the battle is undecided.Rate it:

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arma expedire (Tusc. 2. 16. 37)to make ready for battle.Rate it:

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armar la de san Quintínto start a fightRate it:

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attack is the best form of defenceIn a battle, attacking the opposition first is better than waiting for them to attack.Rate it:

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back in the game In sports, when a losing team regains chances for winningRate it:

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battle crySomething the troops yell out when going to war or battle.Rate it:

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battle cryBy extension, a strong motto or purpose statement, especially in regards to winning a goal in sports, games or work.Rate it:

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battle outTo argue or fight over and reach a conclusion; to air out one's grievances.Rate it:

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beat the daylights out ofTo defeat (someone) thoroughly and decisively, especially in a physical fight.Rate it:

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beat the pants offTo thoroughly and decisively defeat someone, either in a physical fight or, figuratively, in a competition.Rate it:

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blow someone out of the waterTo trounce; to defeat someone thoroughly, at a game or in battle.Rate it:

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bought the farmSimple past tense and past participle of buy the farm: died; often refers to death in battle.Rate it:

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break one's lanceTo engage in an honorable fight.Rate it:

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break upTo stop a fight; to separate people who are fighting.Rate it:

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broken-heartedAlternative spelling of brokenhearted. Feeling depressed, despondent, or hopeless, especially over losing a love.Rate it:

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bun fightAn altercation, especially one which is chaotic, not terribly serious, or outright ridiculous.Rate it:

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bun fightA formal party or other social gathering, especially one at which food is served.Rate it:

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buy the farmTo die; often, to die in battle.Rate it:

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c'était une bataille rangéeIt was a pitched battle.Rate it:

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Can't Fight City HallThe under authority person cannot do anything against an administrative system, there is no way to win the struggle against official procedureRate it:

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Chip on Your ShoulderAlways ready to fight or get in some quarrel or having an aggressive and rude natureRate it:

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clean someone's clockTo defeat decisively, in a physical fight or other competition or negotiation.Rate it:

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close one's eyes and think of EnglandTo accept (rather than fight)-and distract oneself so as to be able to endure-bad or unwanted sex, or by extension any unpleasant but inevitable experience.Rate it:

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collatis signis (viribus) pugnareto fight hand-to-hand, at close quarters.Rate it:

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combattre le feu par le feuto fight fire with fireRate it:

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come from behindTo be in a winning position after having been in a losing position.Rate it:

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come to blowsTo fight; to initiate physical conflict, especially subsequent to escalating tension or antagonism.Rate it:

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couldn't organise a bun fight in a bakerySynonym of couldn't organise a piss-up in a breweryRate it:

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cross swordsTo fight with someone; to duel.Rate it:

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dog in the huntThis is often used erroneously to indicate that one has no stake in the outcome. As such this is a bastardization of two Southern idioms: "no dog in the fight," and "that dog won't hunt." (The latter indicates something is a bad idea or prone to fail.) Use of the phrase "no dog in the hunt" when one wishes to indicate they have no "dog in the fight" will generate funny glances from any Southerners who overhear it.Rate it:

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dragon's denA place to do battle, but the enemy is formidable. Only enter if prepared.Rate it:

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draw outTo improve a losing hand to a winning hand by receiving additional cards.Rate it:

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drop the glovesTo fight.Rate it:

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duke it outTo fight, especially with the fists.Rate it:

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duke outTo fight, especially with fists.Rate it:

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eat someone's dustTo get one to be on a losing end.Rate it:

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every man for himself!Everyone has to fight for his or her own survival. This extraordinary admonition, generally applies during an extreme emergency, commercial or military wherein rescue assistance or other lifesaving help is unlikely.Rate it:

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ex equo pugnareto fight on horseback.Rate it:

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exercitum educere or producere in aciemto lead the army to the fight.Rate it:

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expeditus (opp. impeditus) milesa soldier lightly armed, ready for battle.Rate it:

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