dead loss—
1. said of smth. totally unsuccessful:
- The defense budget was not a dead loss: the economies of South Africa and Namibia got a shot in the arm as a result of this.
2. (coll.) said of a person who is quite worthless:
- We’d better fire Smith now—he’s a dead loss.
total loss—(Insurance) an irreparably damaged vehicle:
- The natural inclination is to under-insure and take the chance of not having a total loss.