lost cause

Something that has no or a very low chance of succeeding or turning out well. The general gave orders to surrender as soon as he saw the battle was a lost cause. Trying to keep a clean house with three young children is a lost cause.

See also: cause, lost

lost cause

a futile attempt; a hopeless matter. Our campaign to have the new party on the ballot was a lost cause. Todd gave it up as a lost cause.

See also: cause, lost

lost cause

A hopeless undertaking, as in Trying to get him to quit smoking is a lost cause. In the 1860s this expression was widely used to describe the Confederacy. [Mid-1800s] Also see losing battle.

See also: cause, lost

lost cause

n. a hopeless or worthless thing or person. The whole play began to wash out during the second act. It was a lost cause by the third.

See also: cause, lost

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Thane	THAYN	English (Rare)
Luz	LOOTH (Spanish), LOOS (Latin American Spanish)	Spanish
Sunshine	SUN-shien	English
Takara	tah-kah-ṙah	Japanese
Kleopatros	-	Ancient Greek
Brynne	BRIN	English (Rare)