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lost cause

noun

a cause that has been defeated or whose defeat is inevitable.

lost cause

noun

a cause with no chance of success

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Word History and Origins

Origin of lost cause¹

First recorded in 1860–65

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Idioms and Phrases

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.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But he said that after moments of fighting the inferno, they knew it was a lost cause and a decision was made to abandon the ship.

From

Roger Diamond made a career out of challenging authority and championing lost causes — sometimes changing the law in the process.

From

Moreover, in what originally seemed like a lost cause, you have somehow managed to not only salvage but maintain and then incredibly, enhance the reputation of my principal in China.

From

Loyalty is a lost cause in this day and age.

From

“They’re looking at all this information and saying this is a lost cause.”

From

lost and found Lost Colony

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