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can't fight City Hall
(You) can't fight city hall.
Fig. There is no way to win in a battle against a bureaucracy. Bill: I guess I'll go ahead and pay the tax bill. Bob: Might as well. You can't fight city hall. Mary: How did things go at your meeting with the zoning board? Sally: I gave up. Can't fight city hall.
can't fight City Hall
Unable to overcome bureaucratic rules, as in Brad couldn't get a permit without going through channels-you can't fight City Hall! This term transfers the seat of city government to a more general sense of bureaucracy in any sphere. [Mid-1800s]
Common Names:
Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
Mehitabel | | mi-HIT-ə-bel (English), mee-HIT-ə-bel (English) | Biblical |
Emerald | | EM-ə-rəld | English (Modern) |
Osbert | | AHZ-bərt | English (Rare) |
Bence | | - | Hungarian |
Wit | | VEET | Polish |
Michiko | | mee-chee-ko | Japanese |