When we say something is “a lost cause“, it means it’s something that cannot succeed or cannot be improved. It’s like trying to fix a broken glass with glue – no matter how much effort you put in, it won’t work.
Here are two examples in sentences:
Example 1:
Despite his efforts to fix the old car, it was a lost cause; it was too old and damaged to repair.
Example 2:
Mary kept trying to convince her brother to study more, but it felt like a lost cause because he was always more interested in playing video games.
Now, let’s see two examples in a conversation:
Example 3:
Joe: I’ve been trying to teach my dog to fetch, but he just doesn’t get it.
Kate: Maybe it’s a lost cause, Joe. Some dogs just don’t like fetching.
Example 4:
Emily: I’m still hoping that Jake will ask me out.
Bella: Emily, I hate to say it, but it might be a lost cause. He’s clearly interested in someone else.
So, the next time you see something that is unlikely to succeed or be improved, you can describe it as “a lost cause“.
