lost his case

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lost his case" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal contexts to indicate that someone did not win a legal dispute or trial. Example: "After months of litigation, he finally lost his case in court."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He lost his case manager.

The New York Times

Lord Coleridge lost his case.

The Economist

Rivera lost his case.

The New York Times - Sports

On Wednesday, though, Noroozi lost his case.

The New York Times - Sports

The printer lost his case.

The New Yorker

And so he lost his case.

The New York Times

It could be said that Mr. Varnadore lost his case.

The New York Times

A job hunter who accused Virgin Atlantic of racial discrimination has lost his case.

Independent

So formal was the procedure that a plaintiff who made the slightest mistake lost his case.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He lost his case, and, as a result, is still on the force.

The New Yorker

So I was not surprised when David Norris lost his case.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lost his case", ensure the context clearly indicates a legal proceeding or formal dispute. Avoid using it in casual situations where 'lost' might refer to misplacing an object.

Common error

Avoid using "lost his case" when referring to non-legal situations. For example, don't say "He lost his case against the chess champion"; instead, use "He lost the game" or "He was defeated".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost his case" functions as a declarative statement indicating an unsuccessful outcome in a legal dispute. Ludwig AI's examples show it used to report legal outcomes in news and historical accounts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lost his case" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe an unsuccessful legal outcome. Ludwig AI confirms that this expression is most frequently found in news and media contexts, indicating its role in reporting legal events. While generally neutral, its formality can vary depending on the source. When using this phrase, ensure the context is appropriate and consider alternative phrases like "was defeated in court" for different shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was defeated in court

Replaces "lost" with "was defeated" and "case" with "court", focusing on the location of the defeat.

the judge ruled against him

Focuses on the judge's decision as the reason for losing, changing the structure of the sentence.

the verdict was not in his favor

Uses more formal language to describe the unfavorable outcome of the legal proceeding.

he failed to win the lawsuit

Substitutes "lost" with "failed to win" and "case" with "lawsuit", emphasizing the failure to achieve victory.

the court found against him

Shifts the focus to the court's decision and its negative impact on the individual.

his legal challenge was unsuccessful

Uses more formal and abstract language to describe the failure of the legal attempt.

the appeal was denied

Specifically refers to the denial of an appeal, narrowing the context to appellate proceedings.

he didn't succeed in his claim

Replaces "lost" with "didn't succeed" and "case" with "claim", focusing on the lack of success in pursuing a claim.

the tribunal rejected his argument

Specifically refers to a tribunal's rejection of an argument, narrowing the context to administrative or specialized legal settings.

the prosecution prevailed

Emphasizes that the other party won. It refers to the opposite outcome, where the opposing side was victorious.

FAQs

What does "lost his case" mean in legal terms?

In legal terms, "lost his case" means that an individual's claim, lawsuit, or legal argument was unsuccessful in court, and the ruling was not in their favor.

What are some alternatives to saying someone "lost his case"?

You can use alternatives like "was defeated in court", "the judge ruled against him", or "he failed to win the lawsuit".

Is it correct to say "lost his case" in both formal and informal contexts?

While "lost his case" is generally acceptable, it's more suitable for news reports or general discussions. In formal legal documents, it's preferable to use more precise and technical language, such as "the court ruled against him" or "judgment was entered against him".

Can "lost his case" apply to situations outside of a courtroom?

While technically applicable to any formal dispute, "lost his case" is most commonly used in legal contexts. For non-legal disputes, it's better to use phrases like "was defeated", "failed", or "didn't succeed".