mug's game
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - A futile or unprofitable endeavor: An activity or pursuit that is pointless, foolish, or certain to result in loss or failure, often because it is based on a naive or misguided belief.
Usage
This term is used to describe an activity that is considered a waste of time, effort, or money. It implies that only a foolish person (a "mug") would engage in such a pursuit. It often carries a tone of warning or cynical advice.
Examples
- Trying to beat the stock market without any research is a mug's game.
- He finally realized that arguing with her was a mug's game and decided to stop.
- Many believe that playing the lottery is a mug's game due to the incredibly low odds of winning.
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used in a declarative structure ("X is a mug's game") to offer a definitive, often cynical, judgment on an activity.
- It can be used in conditional advice: "If you think you can change his mind, you're playing a mug's game."
Variants and Related Words
- Mug (noun, informal): A foolish or gullible person. This is the source of the term "mug's game," implying a game for fools.
- Fool's errand (noun phrase): A task that has no hope of success.
Synonyms
- Fool's errand
- Waste of time
- Lost cause
- Exercise in futility
Related Idioms
- A fool's paradise: A state of happiness based on false hopes or ignorance.
- Chasing rainbows: Pursuing something illusory or impossible to attain.
Note: "Mug's game" is a fixed noun phrase. It does not have associated phrasal verbs.
Noun
- a futile or unprofitable endeavor