Word for phyrric victory

[KenCunningham]

Following on from the 'Devils' Advocate' thread, can anyone think of a word to accurately convey the meaning behind phyrric victory?

 

[tsdragon]

How about virtual defeat?


Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[RodKnowlton]

reference.com had "no-win situation", which would probably be understood by a larger audience.

 

[KenCunningham]

Thanks, both are similar but neither conveys the exact meaning, I feel. I see it more as victory gained only for subsequent events to turn on the victor - shades of the Trojan Horse perhaps. I know that some definitions include 'victory at disproportionate loss' too.

Oh, and while I'm at it, I haven't a clue why I put the ' at the end of Devils in my first post!

 

[columb]

The nearest I can get is a 'high cost win' but I'll admit that it doesn't cover the sense that the high cost completely negated the win.

Ken All those devils, only one advocate.

Columb Healy

 

[CajunCenturion]

What's wrong with phyrric? In this case, you've got a single two-syllable word which conveys a rich and complex meaning. I find it to be very efficient word.

Good Luck
--------------
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[KenCunningham]

Nothing wrong with it at all, it's just interesting to gather opinions about alternatives.

 

[RodKnowlton]

You could always make ironic air quotes with your fingers.

Another such "victory" and I am lost.

 

[CrystalStart]

CC,
let say someone doesn't know word "phyrric".
The same was with "devil's advocate".

Imagine in conversation you mentioning "phyrric victory" and see person't eyebrows are rising...in any other case you (as a polite person) will try to refrase it as fast as you can...so do it with "phyrric victory" and don't foget to have FUN!

 

[CajunCenturion]

CrystalStart - The I would suggest that they be taught the term, rather then dumb-down the language.

Good Luck
--------------
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[tsdragon]

but neither conveys the exact meaning

The only thing that conveys the exact meaning as "phyrric victory" is "phyrric victory". If you're going to make complaints like that don't ask us to come up with alternatives.



Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[CrystalStart]

TS and CC,
you are missing the point.
Alternative to saying is not dumbing-down the language nor it is a crime to search for alternative. Why so bitter?

 

[CajunCenturion]

Not being bitter, just not understanding why you wouldn't want to use an ideal word to describe your concept.

I can appreciate when one looks for an alternative to a word, or phrase, when that word does not adequately define the concept, but I don't understand why one would look for an alternative when an ideal word exists.

Perhaps the concept that you're trying to describe is not really a pyrrhic victory?

Good Luck
--------------
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[Stella740pl]

Hey, guys!

Ever heard of dictionaries?

Those are the things that can explain almost any word or expression using other words for those who doesn't know the meaning of the word/phrase in question. You task is to select the ones suited to your needs.

pyrrhic victory:

A victory achieved at great or excessive cost; a ruinous victory. 
[i]<followed by a brief historical explanation>[/i]

http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2003/07/16.html

A victory that is offset by staggering losses.

http://www.yourdictionary.com/ahd/p/p0691000.html

Wikipedia might be better, but it's really slow today, sorry.

 

[SantaMufasa]

let say someone doesn't know word "phyrric".

Each member of this forum is chrestomathic and a product of euphysics. Although there are aristophrens, lexiconophilists (and the occasional logastellus) among us, we must not become hellenomanic, hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian, or periphrastic. To the contrary, we should be pauciloquent, yet perspicuous.

CrystalStart is rightly looking out for the ephemeromorph but in doing so, should not avoid the aptronym. Even scolionophobes can be tachydidactic if they are quidnuncs.

Since I do not want to be accused of klebenleibenism, adoxography, ultracrepidarianism, or being stultiloquent or a blatteroon, I shall anxiolytically close now.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)

http://www.dasages.com

@ 20:52 (24Feb05) UTC (aka "GMT" and "Zulu"),
@ 13:52 (24Feb05) Mountain Time

Do you use Oracle and live or work in Utah, USA? Then click here to join Utah Oracle Users Group on Tek-Tips.

 

[CajunCenturion]

Don't you mean eupsychics? And isn't ephemeromorph a bit strong?

Good Luck
--------------
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[SantaMufasa]

CC,

Yes, I meant "eupsychics", and now you know why I was concerned about stultiloquence and ultracrepidarianism. . And, "ephemeromorph", perhaps too strong.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)

http://www.dasages.com

@ 21:21 (24Feb05) UTC (aka "GMT" and "Zulu"),
@ 14:21 (24Feb05) Mountain Time

Do you use Oracle and live or work in Utah, USA? Then click here to join Utah Oracle Users Group on Tek-Tips.

 

[CajunCenturion]

ok - but if this circumlocution continues, be prepared to be urticated

Good Luck
--------------
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[ESquared]

How can one look up pyrrhic in the dictionary if it is spelled phyrric?

 

[CajunCenturion]

ESquared - It's easy if you're using a dyslexic dictionary.

Good Luck
--------------
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein