batalha perdida
[ba-TAH-lha per-DI-da]
noun phrasefemininepl: batalhas perdidas
lost battle; lost cause
1. A struggle or conflict that has been lost or is unwinnable; a futile effort
Trying to convince him to change his mind is a lost battle.
Tentar convencê-lo a mudar de ideia é uma batalha perdida.
2. An effort or campaign that has no chance of success
Fighting against corruption in that system seems like a lost battle.
Lutar contra a corrupção naquele sistema parece uma batalha perdida.
3. A situation where one has already accepted defeat before even trying
He gave up before starting—it was a lost battle from the beginning.
Ele desistiu antes de começar—era uma batalha perdida desde o início.
This is a common idiomatic expression in both Brazilian Portuguese and English, used to describe situations where success is unlikely or impossible. In Brazilian culture, it's frequently used in everyday conversation to express resignation or acceptance of defeat in both literal and metaphorical contexts. The phrase carries a sense of inevitability and futility, often implying that continued effort would be pointless.
NYC Slang
a lost cause; a no-win situation
Related Idioms & Phrases
uma batalha perdida de antemão
lutar uma batalha perdida
é batalha perdida tentar...
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