fight a losing battle

fight a losing battle

To try persistently and with great effort to do or achieve something that is ultimately doomed to fail. You're fighting a losing battle if you think you can convince Sarah to go to college. It looks like I'm fighting a losing battle trying to get a raise from my boss.
See also: battle, fight, losing
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

fight a ˌlosing ˈbattle

try without success to achieve or prevent something: I’m fighting a losing battle with my weight. I can’t lose any. The police are fighting a losing battle against car theft.
See also: battle, fight, losing
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be fighting a losing battle
  • play a losing game
  • end in tears
  • it'll (all) end in tears
  • it'll end in tears
  • the sick man of
  • the sick man of (something or somewhere)
  • stop at
  • stop at (something)
  • keep after (someone or something)