So that's it then we failed vs We lost

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

So that's it then we failed

Top 3,000 (common)

We lost

Common idiom
 So that's it then we failedWe lost
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //səʊ ðæts ɪt ðen wi feɪld//🇺🇸 //soʊ ðæts ɪt ðɛn wi feɪld//🇬🇧 //wiː lɒst//🇺🇸 //wi lɔst//
MeaningIt means that something is finished and we were unsuccessful.We no longer have something.
ExampleThey looked at each other sadly, saying, 'So that's it then we failed.'We lost our way in the dark woods.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 3,000 (common)Common idiom
Collocationsaccept failure, final conclusion, team effort, disappointment expressed, casual remarkwe lost track, we lost our chance, we lost the match
Common mistakesOmitting 'then', making it sound abrupt., Using 'we' instead of 'I' when speaking personally., Confusing the meaning with 'we succeeded'.Using 'lose' instead of 'lost' for past events., Confusing 'we lost' with 'we have lost' for ongoing situations., Incorrectly believing it can only refer to physical objects.
Usage notesThis phrase usually implies acceptance of failure. Use in casual conversations, not in formal writing.Use 'We lost' to express something that was taken away or cannot be found. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.

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So that's it then we failed
We lost

Frequently asked questions: So that's it then we failed vs We lost

What's the difference between So that's it then we failed and We lost?

So that's it then we failed: It means that something is finished and we were unsuccessful. We lost: We no longer have something.

Can you show an example of each?

So that's it then we failed: They looked at each other sadly, saying, 'So that's it then we failed.' We lost: We lost our way in the dark woods.

Can I use So that's it then we failed and We lost interchangeably?

Not always. So that's it then we failed and We lost are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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