you win a few, you lose a few
- you win a few, you lose a few
An expression of consolation or resignation of American origin, also frequently found in the form
you win some, you lose some. See also the next entry (
you can’t win them all).
Cf. 1897 R. KIPLING
Captains Courageous x. ‘Thirty million dollars’ worth of mistake, wasn’t it? I’d risk it for that.’ ‘I lost some; and I gained some.’
1966 P. O. DONNELL Sabre-Tooth XIV. You win a few, you lose a few, and it’s no good getting sore.
1976 Times 23 Nov. 14 You look like being saddled with the uninspiring Willy... On the other hand, you seem to have got your way over Mrs. Thatcher’s nominee... You win some, you lose some.
1998 Oldie Jan. 32/3 Ah well, as they say in the Silver Ring, win a few, lose a few.
2001 National Review 19 Nov. 6 At a big Madison Square Garden event, Hillary was booed, Bill was cheered. Win some, lose some.
Proverbs new dictionary.
Look at other dictionaries:
Win a few, lose a few. — tv. Sometimes one wins; other times one loses. □ Too bad. Sorry about that. Win a few, lose a few. □ “Win a few, lose a few,” doesn’t mean you never win at all … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
you can’t win them all — Similar in sentiment to the preceding entry (you win a few, you lose a few). 1953 R. CHANDLER Long Good bye xxiv. Wade took him by the shoulder and spun him round. ‘Take it easy, Doc. You can’t win them all.’ 1984 ‘C. AIRD’ Harm’s Way xviii. ‘The … Proverbs new dictionary
lose — see what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts you cannot lose what you never had a bleating sheep loses a bite lend your money and lose your friend the sun loses nothing by shining into a puddle a tale … Proverbs new dictionary
win — see you win a few, you lose a few you can’t win them all let them laugh that win slow and steady wins the race faint heart never won fair lady … Proverbs new dictionary
few — see many are called but few are chosen you win a few, you lose a few … Proverbs new dictionary
lose — /lu:z/ verb past tense and past participle lost /lst/ 1 NOT HAVE ANY MORE (T) to stop having something that is important to you or that you need: I can t afford to lose my job, I have a family to support. | I lost a lot of money on that deal. |… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
Win, Lose or Draw (album) — Infobox Album | Name = Win, Lose or Draw Type = Album Artist = The Allman Brothers Band Released = August, 1975 Recorded = February July, 1975 Capricorn Sound Studios, Macon, GA and The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA Genre = Southern rock, blues… … Wikipedia
You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown — Infobox Television show name = You re A Good Sport, Charlie Brown caption = show name 2 = genre = Animated TV Special creator = Charles M. Schulz director = Phil Roman creative director = developer = presenter = starring = voices = Duncan Watson… … Wikipedia
Only You (Pearl and Rusty) — Only You is the love duet from Andrew Lloyd Webber s Starlight Express. It is performed by the protagonist, Rusty, a young steam locomotive and his true love, the observation car, Pearl. Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Context 2 Music 3 … Wikipedia
Parker Lewis Can't Lose — Infobox Television show name = Parker Lewis Can t Lose caption = The cast of Parker Lewis Can t Lose show name 2 = Parker Lewis genre = Sitcom creator = Clyde Phillips Lon Diamond director = Rob Bowman Thom Eberhardt Mike Finney Tucker Gates… … Wikipedia
