The origin of the idiom "losing battle" is related to the idea of a battle or conflict that is being fought at a disadvantage, perhaps due to a lack of resources or unfavorable conditions. The phrase has been in use in English since at least the mid-19th century, and it has been applied to a wide range of situations, including personal struggles, political campaigns, and military conflicts. In general, the phrase is used to describe a situation where success is unlikely, but where the effort to achieve it is still considered worthwhile or noble.

a losing battle

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YSBsb3NpbmcgYmF0dGxl&hash=b2e7ca67e939980657654aaffa69671cb7299f28&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

abortive

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YWJvcnRpdmU&hash=0bf1c07ddce22a6004dba8b9686ec263cb63980f&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

attempted

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YXR0ZW1wdGVk&hash=f08608e1b50048955200288d6464695181e28132&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to backfire

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYmFja2ZpcmU&hash=45ddc156884d059d2665623b6697c782e44a49b6&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

badly

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YmFkbHk&hash=f02d0f5dade17b22729d9aae8c86eb6af0e43243&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

barren

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YmFycmVu&hash=acc83b5534754cb3e592d279e6a8fcd07bd71121&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to be on a hiding to nothing

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYmUgb24gYSBoaWRpbmcgdG8gbm90aGluZw&hash=e5a94cffbc14f2d36e0ee0782da04cabcdb80f3b&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to be no use

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYmUgbm8gdXNl&hash=8c1b6b4042a713d74eba2f0c82437d286a1e22ec&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

The idiom "bite off more than someone can chew" is used to describe a situation where someone has taken on a task or responsibility that is too difficult or overwhelming for them to handle. The phrase draws from the act of taking a bite of food that is too large to chew comfortably.

What is the origin of the idiom "bite off more than someone can chew" and when to use it?

to [bite] off more than {sb} (can|could) chew

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYml0ZSBvZmYgbW9yZSB0aGFuIHNvbWVib2R5IGNhbiBjaGV3&hash=9c3349a9194c7e63d955402701cba8c2fcd193c5&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to [bite] the dust

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYml0ZSB0aGUgZHVzdA&hash=dff89ea38f7a85da0cf0929bdc8ec6a20efb173b&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

breakdown

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YnJlYWtkb3du&hash=1b1b4c8e7a81d6789eba9c951c45a6040855bfc8&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to bungle

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYnVuZ2xl&hash=7a58b06a6ae8a61070c2d38866cddccaae6d3b78&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

bungling

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YnVuZ2xpbmc&hash=5094d8eec7553677b8e8620bad342677a4c4e5f5&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to break down

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYnJlYWsgZG93bg&hash=c4e553098c98ed182a0b6accac1f291406549e0a&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

The origin of the idiom "chase one's tail" is related to the behavior of dogs, who may chase their own tails in circles without ever catching them. The phrase has been in use in English since at least the early 20th century, and it is often applied to situations where someone is engaging in fruitless activity, such as repeatedly trying to solve a problem using the same ineffective approach. In general, the phrase is used to describe a situation where someone is expending a lot of energy without making any real progress towards their goals.

What is the origin of the idiom "chase one's tail" and when to use it?

to [chase] {one's} (own|) tail

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY2hhc2Ugb25lJ3Mgb3duIHRhaWw&hash=50c762a67bdc088cc1f545627ad9fc00f2e2e8a6&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to choke

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY2hva2U&hash=b374adeb6a9d2af47ba8a7fc2eeba935f9ffef37&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

close but no cigar

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=Y2xvc2UgYnV0IG5vIGNpZ2Fy&hash=1b4ad538096d211c1774092cea29e2f93e783353&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

collapsed

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=Y29sbGFwc2Vk&hash=b304fb284d8e73efbbc4856e1bababde25487c2e&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to collapse

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY29sbGFwc2U&hash=fc0b8402428a79f4a552b88132ed42e055be2fb0&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

The idiom "come a cropper" is believed to have emerged in Britain in the early 19th century, and may have originally referred to a horse that stumbled and fell during a race. This phrase  is often used to describe a situation where someone has experienced a sudden and unexpected setback or failure, often as a result of their own actions or decisions.

What is the origin of the idiom "come a cropper" and when to use it?

to [come] a cropper

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY29tZSBhIGNyb3BwZXI&hash=6b5bdd708395cda71ae772260f36b799d95ce7ba&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

The origin of the idiom "come to grief" is unclear, but it has been in use since at least the 18th century. This phrase implies a sudden and catastrophic loss, often resulting in physical or emotional harm. It can be used to describe a wide range of situations, from a failed business venture to a personal relationship that ends badly. The phrase is often used in a negative sense to convey a sense of disappointment, regret, or sadness at the failure or loss.

What is the origin of the idiom "come to grief" and when to use it?

to [come] to grief

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY29tZSB0byBncmllZg&hash=bcf19e4fe2de14e8395f0276167749162b1c923f&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

The idiom "come to nothing" has been in use since the 16th century. Its origin is uncertain, but it likely emerged from the concept of something being built up or anticipated, only to fail to materialize or achieve its intended goal. The idiom implies a sense of disappointment or frustration, as something that was hoped for or anticipated has not come to fruition. Today, the idiom is commonly used to describe a situation where a plan, project, or effort has failed to achieve its intended outcome, despite significant effort or investment.

What is the origin of the idiom "come to nothing" and when to use it?

to [come] to nothing

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY29tZSB0byBub3RoaW5n&hash=c402ea1ff4d12f62a9d00ff9bfc62cb649b301bc&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to crumble

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY3J1bWJsZQ&hash=17e303b18e42a2e83aff380a13a7dfa1702baa25&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to come unglued

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY29tZSB1bmdsdWVk&hash=ead26f93d9034df07457138a708cc732d287ad13&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to [come] unstuck

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY29tZSB1bnN0dWNr&hash=57d972edbb4ca33896fcf3e59a228c63158a3c22&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY3J1bWJsZQ&hash=0403e849d8312884e27636a88abb8d60a15adfc3&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

dead on arrival

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZGVhZCBvbiBhcnJpdmFs&hash=609c4d9d3d6898232640f1753656a949ec88912b&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

defeatism

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZGVmZWF0aXNt&hash=458ddd8d94a4f35f559fcaa71eb98a113cf0096c&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

defeatist

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZGVmZWF0aXN0&hash=7ca00b01604dec3ca7899579e564e375097415c3&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

to disqualify

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZGlzcXVhbGlmeQ&hash=69e7d4d73ae728865bcbdf5d32cc04ac782fe61e&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to die a death

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZGllIGEgZGVhdGg&hash=96b0155b84296fda29ea5111b6a64c777f11b2cd&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

disappointing

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZGlzYXBwb2ludGluZw&hash=52abf78d58ebc8b110f5f05c17ba2100edd502bc&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

disastrously

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZGlzYXN0cm91c2x5&hash=16119654faea2178bde07b86d798720f547a32d2&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=US

disastrous

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZGlzYXN0cm91cw&hash=1d9035daed1948da843f94feb97c05bd149925b8&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

disappointingly

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZGlzYXBwb2ludGluZ2x5&hash=8494934ee99095f3f167cf8a63d061c961131842&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

Here you will learn some English words related to resulting in failure such as "abortive", "barren", and "collapse".

Resulting in Failure

English Words for "Resulting in Failure"