Bedeutung
Hopeless task.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Greeks often use this phrase with a characteristic shrug of the shoulders and a 'pff' sound, indicating a mix of resignation and pragmatism. In Cyprus, you might hear 'εν χαμένη υπόθεση' (using the local 'εν' instead of 'είναι'), but the sentiment of fatalism remains identical. In Greek startups, this phrase is often used to describe 'zombie companies' that stay alive but have no growth potential. Greek sports newspapers frequently use this as a headline when a team is mathematically eliminated from a tournament.
Use it for objects first
If you're nervous about using it for people, start by using it for broken things. It's 100% safe and natural.
Don't be too mean
Calling a person 'χαμένη υπόθεση' to their face is very insulting. Use it about situations or in the third person.
Bedeutung
Hopeless task.
Use it for objects first
If you're nervous about using it for people, start by using it for broken things. It's 100% safe and natural.
Don't be too mean
Calling a person 'χαμένη υπόθεση' to their face is very insulting. Use it about situations or in the third person.
The 'Sunk Cost' phrase
In business Greek, this is the perfect way to describe the Sunk Cost Fallacy without using technical jargon.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Μην προσπαθείς να τον πείσεις, είναι μια _______ _______.
The standard idiom is 'χαμένη υπόθεση'.
Which situation best fits the phrase 'είναι μια χαμένη υπόθεση'?
Πότε θα χρησιμοποιούσατε αυτή τη φράση;
The phrase describes a hopeless situation where effort is wasted.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the idiom.
Α: Πιστεύεις ότι η Μαρία θα γυρίσει στον Γιάννη; Β: Όχι, μετά από τόσα ψέματα, η σχέση τους ________________.
The present tense 'είναι' fits best for a current assessment of the situation.
Match the phrase with the most likely context.
Σε ποιο πλαίσιο ταιριάζει η φράση 'είναι μια χαμένη υπόθεση';
This matches both the literal origin and the figurative meaning of hopelessness.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenΜην προσπαθείς να τον πείσεις, είναι μια _______ _______.
The standard idiom is 'χαμένη υπόθεση'.
Πότε θα χρησιμοποιούσατε αυτή τη φράση;
The phrase describes a hopeless situation where effort is wasted.
Α: Πιστεύεις ότι η Μαρία θα γυρίσει στον Γιάννη; Β: Όχι, μετά από τόσα ψέματα, η σχέση τους ________________.
The present tense 'είναι' fits best for a current assessment of the situation.
Σε ποιο πλαίσιο ταιριάζει η φράση 'είναι μια χαμένη υπόθεση';
This matches both the literal origin and the figurative meaning of hopelessness.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, but be careful. It implies they are hopeless or will never change. It's common in gossip but rude to say directly.
Yes, especially if you are analyzing a failed policy or a historical event. It is a standard idiomatic expression.
The plural is 'είναι χαμένες υποθέσεις'.
Yes, it always implies that success is impossible or the effort is wasted.
Yes, Greeks often say this self-deprecatingly, for example, if they are bad at math or cooking.
Sometimes people just say 'Άστο, χαμένη υπόθεση' (Leave it, lost cause).
Yes, they share the same root, but the idiom specifically uses the noun form.
No. For a lost wallet, you just say 'έχασα το πορτοφόλι μου'. This phrase is for situations, not physical loss.
You can say 'Δεν είναι χαμένη υπόθεση ακόμα' (It's not a lost cause yet).
Very! Many Greek 'laiko' songs use it to describe a love that can't be saved.
Verwandte Redewendungen
χαμένος κόπος
synonymwasted effort
δεν βγάζει πουθενά
similarit leads nowhere
μάταιος κόπος
similarvain effort
υπάρχει ελπίδα
contrastthere is hope
