The opposite of "win-win" situation?

farhad_persona

farhad_persona

Banned
Farsi
Hello to all,

I always thought that the opposite of "win-win" situation is "lose-lose" situation, but I've learned that lose-lose situation is one where a person has choices, but no choice leads to a good outcome.

So, what can I use to describe a situation in which there is a bad result for each person or group involved.

For example, I want to ask you to make up your mind about something and I tell you this:
This is a .... situation. You need to make up your mind because you are wasting both your time and mine.
 
    • stez said:
    A no-win situation.
    Click to expand...

    Here's the definition of no-win from LONGMAN:

    relating to a situation in which whatever you choose to do it will have a bad result

    So, I guess it's different from a situation in which there is a bad result for each person or group involved. Am I right?
     
    In fact you were right originally - lose-lose is indeed the opposit of win-win. The definition you gave of only having bad choices is in fact a no-win situation, not a lose-lose situation, which is where you choose an option in which you lose but so also does your opponent. But I don't quite see how any of these expressions fit into your example.
     
    In game theory, a no-win situation is one in which no player benefits from any outcome.
     
    Glasguensis said:
    In fact you were right originally - lose-lose is indeed the opposit of win-win. The definition you gave of only having bad choices is in fact a no-win situation, not a lose-lose situation, which is where you choose an option in which you lose but so also does your opponent. But I don't quite see how any of these expressions fit into your example.
    Click to expand...

    I'm inclined to agree. The description isn't of two alternatives, but rather the current situation where both are "losing". It seems odd to me too.
     
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