The word I can't think of...

Cyia · Nov 28, 2009

A "victory" where both sides had such high casualties that neither side really won.

I know there's Pyrrhic, but I'm thinking there's another word for it. (A name of some kind?) It's driving me batty.

Wayne K · Nov 28, 2009

Vietnam.

Wayne K · Nov 28, 2009

Srsly though, I think I know the word you're thinking of, but I can't think of it either.

DWSTXS · Nov 28, 2009

would that be a pyrrhic victory?

DWSTXS · Nov 28, 2009

well, I just looked it up, after my guess, and I was correct. I even spelled it correctly, wow!

alleycat · Nov 28, 2009

There's also Cadmean victory.

Narrow victory? No-win situation.

I'm thinking there's a better word than these as well. It will come to me right after someone posts it.

Now it's driving me batty! ;-)

alleycat · Nov 28, 2009

False victory?

DWSTXS · Nov 28, 2009

another phrase is: A hollow victory

alleycat · Nov 28, 2009

Ah! A hollow victory might be it, DWS.

I think that was the term that was lurking somewhere in the back of my head.

DWSTXS · Nov 28, 2009

you could also use Stalemate, deadlock, and I'm sure there are other words for no-win situations.

Cyia · Nov 28, 2009

None of the above. I'm not looking for a synonym, but that one specific and elusive phrase that's driving me nuts.

But thanks for the suggestions.

Robert Toy · Nov 28, 2009

"The victories which men win in war often have been, and will be, 'Kadmeian.'” [I.e. involving more loss than gain--a proverbial expression, possibly derived from the fate of the Spartoi.]

Plato, Laws 641c :

alleycat · Nov 28, 2009

Sorry. I was sure hollow victory was going to be it.

I'd be surprised if someone here doesn't eventually come along with the phrase you're looking for.

You could go to one of the online dictionaries (one with synonyms) and put in some of the terms suggested so far and see what you get.

Robert Toy · Nov 28, 2009

alleycat said:
Sorry. I was sure hollow victory was going to be it.

I'd be surprised if someone here doesn't eventually come along with the phrase you're looking for.

You could go to one of the online dictionaries (one with synonyms) and put in some of the terms suggested so far and see what you get.

that's actually the best sounding one

DWSTXS · Nov 28, 2009

From Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - You may win this war, Commander, but I promise you, by the time it's over, you will have lost so many ships, so many lives, that your 'victory' will taste as bitter as defeat."

maybe not an exact phrase, but I was hoping that maybe something in those words might give you the clue you need.

alleycat · Nov 28, 2009

It's amazing how frustrating it can be when you know there's a word or phrase that is perfect for what you want to say . . . but you can't quite put your finger on it. It's not that you want to use some exotic term, it's just that the one you can't remember is the right one. And it can drive someone batty until they come up with it.

Robert Toy · Nov 28, 2009

empty?

DWSTXS · Nov 28, 2009

I also like: a bittersweet victory. That's a fairly descriptive way of saying pyrrhic without using a 50 cent word

Cyia · Nov 28, 2009

I'll just keep Pyrrhic for now and hope I think of it later. (need the 50 cent word for this one) Thanks guys.

raburrell · Nov 28, 2009

Mutually Assured Destruction is the only thing I can come up with that hasn't been suggested yet, Cyia, but that's more conceptual preventative strategy than anything.

Cyia · Nov 28, 2009

I'm beginning to wonder if maybe I'm getting stuck on a name I heard in a movie and my brain thinks it's a common term when it's not. (Well, obviously it's not common, but you know what I mean.)

Bufty · Nov 29, 2009

'pyrrhic' seems to be exactly what's needed to refer to the victor in a battle where the victor's losses don't seem to justify calling it a victory.

But from your description, there is no apparent victor at all - there's no victory yet so no relevant word -no?

If they fight till there's only two left they could agree on a draw or stalemate.

If one slays the other he wins and has a phyrric victory. The loser has zippo - so why worry about what word describes his non-existent victory?

boron · Nov 30, 2009

dibrach

http://onelook.com/?w=*&loc=revfp2&clue=pyrrhic

The word I can't think of...

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