A Lost Cause Idiom American Expressions and American Idioms

This database is a comprehensive collection of all the American idioms and slang available. American Idioms are many and varied. We hope you enjoy our collection. We are adding more all the time. .

a lost cause What does a lost cause mean?	a hopeless matter	Trying to change the work habits of our secretary is a lost cause. She will never change.
a lost cause What does a lost cause mean?	a hopeless matter	Trying to change the work habits of our secretary is a lost cause. She will never change.
	Some Random Idioms
Breathe down your neck What does "Breathe down your neck" mean?	If someone follows you or examines what you're doing very closely, they are breathing down your neck.
circle the wagons What does "circle the wagons" mean?	to set up a defense against an enemy	The managers began to circle the wagons as the accounting scandal became worse.
make a fool out of (someone) What does "make a fool out of (someone)" mean?	make someone look foolish	The secretary made a fool out of her boss when she argued with him at the meeting.
get a head start (on someone or something) What does "get a head start (on someone or something)" mean?	to start earlier than someone or something, to start earlier than usual	We want to get a head start on our holiday.
pipe up What does "pipe up" mean?	to speak louder	We asked the speaker to pipe up so that we could hear him.
one up on (someone) What does "one up on (someone)" mean?	to have an advantage over someone	I am one up on my friend because he is still looking for a job while I have already found one.
Keep your hair on What does "Keep your hair on" mean?	Keep your hair on is advice telling someone to keep calm and not to over-react or get angry.

on the ropes What does "on the ropes" mean?	in a desperate situation or near defeat (from boxing where the losing boxer is forced back against the ropes)	in a desperate situation or near defeat (from boxing where the losing boxer is forced back against the ropes)The boxer was on the ropes and it seemed impossible for him to win the match.
win by a nose What does "win by a nose" mean?	to win by a very small amount	The young horse won by a nose in the horse race.
no point in (something) What does "no point in (something)" mean?	no purpose in doing something	There is no point in talking to my supervisor. He never listens to what I am saying.
sticky wicket What does "sticky wicket" mean?	an awkward situation (from cricket where rain has made it difficult to bat on the field)	an awkward situation (from cricket where rain has made it difficult to bat on the field)The rain had made a sticky wicket out of the field and neither side was able to play very well.
in the doghouse What does "in the doghouse" mean?	in disgrace or disfavor, in trouble	The man is in the doghouse with his wife because he came home late last night.
put (something) on hold What does "put (something) on hold" mean?	to postpone a project	The construction company put the project on hold while they looked for more money.

American Idioms and Expressions

A Lost Cause Idiom