A lost cause Meaning in English
expression
ˈeɪ/, /ə/ /ˈɫɔst/ /ˈkɑz/, /ˈkɔz
uh LAWST KAWZ
æɪ/ /lˈɒst/ /kˈɔːz
uh LOST KAWZ
Definition
A person, thing, or situation that has no chance of success or cannot be saved or improved.
Usage & Nuances
Used informally, often sympathetically or humorously, to describe hopeless situations, people, or efforts. Commonly used as 'It's a lost cause' or 'He's a lost cause.' Not for formal contexts.
Spanish: una causa perdida - algo sin esperanzaPortuguese (BR): caso perdido - causa perdidaPortuguese (PT): causa perdida - caso perdidoChinese (Simplified): 无望的事 - 没救的事Chinese (Traditional): 無望的事 - 沒救的事Hindi: असफल प्रयास - खोई हुई आशाArabic: قضية خاسرة - أمر ميؤوس منهBengali: হারানো চেষ্টা - আশাহীন ব্যাপারRussian: безнадёжное дело - погибшее делоJapanese: 見込みがないこと - 無駄な努力Vietnamese: vô vọng - không còn hy vọngKorean: 가망 없는 일 - 희망이 없는 일Turkish: umutsuz vaka - umutsuz girişimUrdu: ناممکن کوشش - بے امید معاملہIndonesian: usaha sia-sia - tanpa harapan
Example Sentences
He tried to fix the old car, but it was a lost cause.
basic
Studying the night before the exam was a lost cause.
basic
Cleaning this room feels like a lost cause.
basic
I tried teaching my dog to dance, but it's a lost cause.
natural
Don’t argue with him about politics, it's a lost cause.
natural
Trying to keep my white shirt clean all day is a lost cause.
natural