victory
Related to victory: Pyrrhic victory
landslide victory
A victory in an election by a very large and decisive margin. Her candidacy was a long shot from the very beginning, so her landslide victory was a huge surprise to everyone.
See also: victory
Pyrrhic victory
A victory that is not worth achieving because of the excessive toll it takes on the victor. Winning the lawsuit was a Pyrrhic victory, since it cost us everything we had.
See also: pyrrhic, victory
romp to victory
To deftly or easily win a race, contest, or competition. Primarily heard in UK. With her arch-rival out of commission with a pulled hamstring, the defending champion romped to victory at the Olympics once again. Showing their utter superiority on the pitch, the boys in blue look set to romp to a 6–2 victory.
See also: romp, victory
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory
To fail, lose, or be defeated despite the appearance that one would be victorious, especially due to a mistake, error, or poor judgment. (An ironic reversal of the more common "snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.") We were ahead by nearly 20 points with less than half the quarter remaining—how on earth did we manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory like that? The candidate has led in the polls right up to election day, but with that unfortunate remark last night, he may well have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
See also: defeat, jaw, of, snatch, victory
snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
To win, succeed, or be victorious at the last moment, despite the apparent likelihood of failure or defeat. They were down by nearly 20 points with less than half of the last quarter remaining, but through sheer skill and perseverance they managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The candidate has been behind in the polls right up to election day, but with that unfortunate remark by his opponent last night, he may end up snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
See also: defeat, jaw, of, snatch, victory
the jaws of (something)
Something, especially something unpleasant or undesirable, that very nearly comes to pass. Used especially after "snatch from." The drowning fishermen were snatched from the jaws of death by a passing cruise ship. They were down by nearly 20 points with less than half of the last quarter remaining, but through sheer skill and perseverance they managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
See also: jaw, of
the sweet smell of victory
The euphoric feeling of being successful or victorious. We had the sweet smell of victory in our nostrils, until a last-minute penalty snatched it from our fingertips. It seems like they've let the sweet smell of victory cloud their judgment, as this latest business ventures is one of the most baffling in their entire history.
See also: of, smell, sweet, victory
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
landslide victory
a victory by a large margin; a very substantial victory, particularly in an election. The mayor won a landslide victory in the election. The younger candidate won a landslide victory in the presidential election.
See also: victory
snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
Cliché to win at the last moment. At the last moment, the team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a last-second full-court basket.
See also: defeat, jaw, of, snatch, victory
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
Pyrrhic victory
A victory that is offset by staggering losses, as in The campaign was so divisive that even though he won the election it was a Pyrrhic victory . This expression alludes to Kind Pyrrhus of Epirus, who defeated the Romans at Asculum in b.c. 279, but lost his best officers and many of his troops. Pyrrhus then said: "Another such victory and we are lost." In English the term was first recorded (used figuratively) in 1879.
See also: pyrrhic, victory
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
a Pyrrhic victory
If you describe a victory as a Pyrrhic victory, you mean that although someone has won or gained something, they have also lost something which was worth even more. If gun-control advocates achieve their goals by threats, rather than through properly enacted legislation, it will be a Pyrrhic victory. Note: This expression comes from the victory of King Pyrrhus over the Romans, in which much of King Pyrrhus's army was killed.
See also: pyrrhic, victory
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
Pyrrhic victory
a victory gained at too great a cost.Pyrrhus was a king of Epirus, who defeated the Romans at Asculum in 279 bc , but in doing so sustained heavy losses and lost his finest troops.
See also: pyrrhic, victory
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
a ˌPyrrhic ˈvictory
a victory which is achieved at too high a price and therefore not worth having: It was a Pyrrhic victory. They won the strike but then most of them lost their jobs.This idiom refers to Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, who in 279BC defeated the Romans but lost all his best officers and men.See also: pyrrhic, victory
ˈromp home/to victory
(informal) win easily, especially in a race, an election, etc: The Queen’s horse romped home in the first race. The Democratic Party romped to victory in the recent elections.See also: home, romp, victory
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
Pyrrhic victory
A victory that is worse for the winners than the losers. The term refers to the victory of King Pyrrhus of Epirus over the Romans at Asculum in 279 b.c. In this first major battle between the Greeks and the Romans, Pyrrhus lost his best officers and many of his troops. Ever since the term Pyrrhic victory has meant a victory so costly that it counts as a defeat.
See also: pyrrhic, victory
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- landslide victory
- pyrrhic
- Pyrrhic victory
- a Pyrrhic victory
- taste blood
- poll
- go to the polls
- he laughs best who laughs last
- he who laughs last, laughs best
- he who laughs last, laughs loudest