Here’s an idiom that I think most of you have heard before - To win the battle but lose the war. Basically, it means to win in the short run but lose in the long run.

    E.G. "The aging leaders of 1989 who ordered the crackdown WON THE BATTLE BUT LOST THE WAR. China today is no longer a Communist nation in any meaningful sense."

   —- Nicholas D. Kristof - Syndicated columnist for "The New York Times" referring to the brutal crackdown by the Chinese government of the pro-democracy movement in 1989 in Tienamen Square.

       Regards,

       Brian Costello
       Seattle, Wa.
     

Rather like marriage, wouldn’t you say?

Phyrrus of Epirus, after winning one or more costly victories over the Romans supposedly said, "another such victory and we are undone" or something like that.
Hence the expression, "Phyrric Victory".

SR

When Iraq lost the first Gulf War, a government-employed radio announcer (Iraqi government, that is) was given a 2 hour’s long victory speech to read out.  I listened to it while driving from Jerusalem to Beer Sheva for reserve duty.  It was absolutely surreal.

I would say that this was an imperially phyrric victory.

Perry

My red pen is out: The term is PYRRHIC.

-Tim

Yes, Tim but to spell it that way makes one appear inebriated.

SR

Not so!  It veritably purrs across the tongue…

;D

-Tim

[quote author=StoutRex link=board=idiom;num=1086304220;start=0#2 date=06/04/04 at 01:24:38]Phyrrus of Epirus, after winning one or more costly victories over the Romans supposedly said, "another such victory and we are undone" or something like that.
Hence the expression, "Phyrric Victory".

SR

At the risk of being inflammatory ... This is as opposed to a "pyorrheac victory" which can also be costly to the point of outweighing expected benefits, depending upon the choice of endodontist.

At the risk of being inflammatory ... This is as opposed to a "pyorrheac victory" which can also be costly to the point of outweighing expected benefits, depending upon the choice of endodontist.

Inflammatory indeed, RK. My gums started hurting the minute I read your post.
Thanks for the chuckle. In this case the victory is to the endodontist, who will no doubt use the proceeds of his victory to make a down payment on his new mercedes.

A 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide carefully applied with a cotton swab twice a month might help, though some medical people advise against the use of peroxide in this way.

SR

Sounds as if both ol’ King Pyrrhus and our modern-day endodontist could surely use a very exclusive lesson in quantitative risk management!

Priapic Victory - sticking your head above the battlement before the last shot has been fired.

Parapet victory = underhanded operational sally planned & executed from a highly defensible stronghold: tactical counterstrike done solely for the specialized purpose of cathartic effect—nevermind all the military ethics, sometimes called “dirty pool”!