a losing cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a losing cause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or effort that is unlikely to succeed or achieve its intended goal. Example: "Despite their best efforts, the campaign to save the local park felt like a losing cause against the city's development plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His debut had come three years earlier when he scored a try in a losing cause in Auckland.

The Guardian - Sport

This has become a decent knock by the Yorkshireman, albeit almost certainly in a losing cause.

The Guardian - Sport

Kidd got his second consecutive triple-double, the 40th of his career, but it was in a losing cause.

The New York Times - Sports

Washington's fans are cheering hard, but for a losing cause.

The Washington Post

That gave Micro Bridge 12 imps in a losing cause.

The New York Times

Death was noble even in (especially in) a losing cause.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I don't look at it as a losing cause.

The New York Times

A losing cause does not automatically have to become a lost one: Iraq showed that.

The Economist

He knows as well as anyone that many of his efforts are in a losing cause".

The New York Times

As far as the privacy argument goes, libertarians seem to be pursuing a losing cause.

The Economist

Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk scored once in a losing cause for St . Petersburg

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a losing cause", ensure the context clearly indicates the futility or lack of success associated with the endeavor. Provide specific reasons or evidence to support the assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "a losing cause" in situations where the outcome is uncertain or where there is still a reasonable chance of success. Reserve it for scenarios where failure is highly probable or virtually guaranteed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a losing cause" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a preposition or a complement within a sentence. It describes an endeavor or situation characterized by a high probability of failure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s used to depict efforts that are unlikely to achieve their intended goals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

30%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

HuffPost

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a losing cause" is a commonly used noun phrase that describes an effort or situation with little to no chance of success. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in various contexts, particularly in news and media, and sports reporting. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives like "futile effort" may be preferable in professional settings. The phrase's frequency and consistent usage across authoritative sources demonstrate its established place in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a futile effort

Focuses on the wasted energy and lack of results.

a hopeless case

Emphasizes the lack of hope for improvement or success.

a lost battle

Highlights the defeat and the end of the struggle.

a dead end

Implies no further progress or advancement is possible.

a pointless exercise

Stresses the lack of purpose or value in the endeavor.

a doomed enterprise

Suggests an inevitable and unfortunate failure.

an exercise in futility

Highlights the unproductive and wasteful nature of the effort.

fighting a losing battle

Focuses on the act of struggling against inevitable defeat.

swimming against the tide

Emphasizes the difficulty and resistance faced.

barking up the wrong tree

Indicates a mistaken or misguided approach.

FAQs

How can I use "a losing cause" in a sentence?

You can use "a losing cause" to describe an effort that is unlikely to succeed. For example, "Despite their efforts, trying to revive the old tradition felt like "a losing cause"".

What's a more formal way to say "a losing cause"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "a futile effort" or "a hopeless endeavor" instead of ""a losing cause"" to maintain a professional tone.

Is "a losing cause" the same as "a lost cause"?

While similar, ""a losing cause"" implies an ongoing effort with little hope of success, whereas "a lost cause" suggests that the effort has already failed or been abandoned.

What can I say instead of "a losing cause" to emphasize wasted effort?

To emphasize wasted effort, you could use phrases like "a pointless exercise" or "an exercise in futility" instead of ""a losing cause"".