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	Pronounced	Usage
Edwin	['edwin]
Lakshman	-	Indian, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi
Josiane	-	French
Isidora	ee-see-DHO-rah (Spanish), ee-zee-DO-rah (Italian), iz-i-DAWR-ə (English)	Serbian, Macedonian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian (Rare), Italian (Rare), English (Rare), Ancient Gr
LÍLian	-	Portuguese (Brazilian)
Mccloud	[mək'klaud]