hiding to nothing

== English == === Etymology === From horse racing, hiding (“beating”); to (“as used to express gambling odds”), e.g., 6 to 1. Literally, the phrase can be described as to bet on a contest whose outcome is at worst a beating, or at best nothing. A heavily favoured team in a sporting contest earns no credit for victory, but is shamed by defeat; this team is said to be on a hiding to nothing. === Pronunciation === === Noun === hiding to nothing (plural hidings to nothing) (idiomatic, British, informal) A situation in which victory has little or no value, but defeat has a huge cost. ==== Usage notes ==== Can be used to describe any contested outcome. === References === http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/on-a-hiding-to-nothing.html