相撲すもうに勝かって勝しょう負ぶに負まける
Meanings
Expression
Verb (1-dan)
Idiomatic
1. to ultimately fail despite being in a favourable position; to fail at the last moment; to win the battle but lose the war; (lit.) to have the upper hand in sumo (technique) but lose the match
Kanji used
towards each other
hit (with a blunt object)
win
lose to (something)