A Pyrrhic Victory

🗓️ Idiom: A Pyrrhic Victory (n)

💬 Meaning

• A win that comes at such a high cost it feels like a loss.
• Success that causes more harm than good.

🧠 Example Sentences

• The company won the legal battle, but the damage to its reputation made it a Pyrrhic victory.
• They avoided environmental fines by cutting corners, but the public backlash turned their win into a Pyrrhic victory.
• Approving the project without community support was a Pyrrhic victory for the board of directors.

🏛️ Origin

This idiom comes from King Pyrrhus of Epirus, who defeated the Romans in battle but lost so many soldiers that the victory was not worth it. Today, it means a costly or hollow win.

📝 Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blank:
The company won the contract, but the loss of employee trust made it a ________.

2. Multiple choice:
What is a Pyrrhic victory?
a) A quick win with no effort
b) A win at great cost
c) A surprising win against a strong rival

3. Change the sentence using “Pyrrhic victory”:
“The company gained and lost customers with their new green image.”

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