You can't win them all

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Meaning

Not every try succeeds, some losses come.

Origin

From 20th-century America, tied to sports; slang by 1930s for loss, as in a 1939 'Life' for a game. Possibly from gambling's 'not all,' it reflects a Depression shrug and field play.

Variants

  • Can't win

Usage Examples

  • Lost again? You can't win them all.
  • You can't win them all; keep going.
  • She smiled; you can't win them all.

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