play a losing game

1. see under losing battle.

Example Sentences

The way to avoid mistakes is to be conservative and keep the ball in play, letting the other fellow have plenty of room in which to blunder his way to defeat, because he, being an amateur will play a losing game and not know it.

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Since he’s an amateur, your opponent will play a losing game and not know it.

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To refuse to give him this chance merely because you are weak in trumps, is to play a losing game.

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Apparently he could not play a losing game, and a single knock-down blow discouraged him once for all.

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Lausche does not like to play a losing game or to back a risky candidate.

Read more on Time Magazine Archive