Idiom
mug's game
Meanings
An activity that is pointless or not worth doing because it is unlikely to succeed.
An unfair or losing situation where someone is likely to be exploited or end up worse off.
Definition
A mug's game is an activity that is pointless, foolish, or not worth the effort, often because the odds are against you.
A mug's game is something that wastes time or effort because it is unlikely to bring a good result. People use it to warn that an activity is unfair, risky, or designed so you lose in the end. It is common in British English and often implies that only a naive person would keep trying.
Examples
- Trying to change his mind is a mug's game.
- Chasing unpaid invoices one by one can feel like a mug's game.
- Betting on that team away from home is a mug's game.
- Arguing with anonymous trolls online is a mug's game.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes write or say "mugs game" without the apostrophe, but the correct form is "mug's game."
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