losing case

[ˈluːzɪŋ keɪs]
nounpl: losing cases
caso perdido; causa perdida
1. A legal case that is unlikely to be won or has no chance of success
The defendant's lawyer realized they were fighting a losing case from the start.
O advogado do réu percebeu que estava lutando uma causa perdida desde o início.
2. Any situation or endeavor that appears hopeless or is destined to fail
Trying to convince him to change his mind is a losing case.
Tentar convencê-lo a mudar de ideia é uma causa perdida.
The phrase is used both in literal legal contexts in the USA and Brazil to describe court cases with no viable path to victory, and metaphorically to describe any hopeless situation. In Brazilian Portuguese, 'causa perdida' has become an idiomatic expression used far beyond legal settings to express futility in daily life. The expression reflects a common cultural acknowledgment of circumstances beyond one's control.
NYC Slang
dead case; dead in the water
Synonyms / Sinônimos
lost causehopeless caseunwinnable situationdead end
Antonyms / Antônimos
winning casepromising casewinnable case

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
causa perdida; caso perdido
Most common and widely understood translation
Rio de Janeiro
causa perdida
Preferred in legal contexts
São Paulo
caso perdido
Used in both legal and general contexts
Portugal
causa perdida; processo perdido
Portuguese variation, less commonly used in everyday speech

Related Words

lawsuitlegal battledefeatfailurefutile effortuphill battle

Related Idioms & Phrases

fighting a losing battle
a lost cause
barking up the wrong tree
tilting at windmills
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