It's doomed to failure (4,5)
I believe the answer is:
lost cause
(Other definitions for lost cause that I've seen before include "Hopeless ideal" , "patronised by Jude?" , "Hopeless case" , "you won't influence him" , "write-off" .)
I believe the answer is:
lost cause
(Other definitions for lost cause that I've seen before include "Hopeless ideal" , "patronised by Jude?" , "Hopeless case" , "you won't influence him" , "write-off" .)