lose out

present singular third person loses out · participle present losing out · participle past lost out · past lost out

1. To be at a disadvantage.

   I think you will lose out on the exchange rate if you move to dollars now.

   1 more example

   People who do not speak a second language find that they lose out when looking for a job.

2. To be defeated (by).

   I went for a job interview, but I lost out to a younger guy.

   2 more examples

   Chelsea had two players sent off and lost out to a Heidar Helguson penalty in a heated west London derby.

   2011 October 23, Becky Ashton, “QPR 1 - 0 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport

   The Western Region learned that it was to lose out on new stock deliveries, inheriting instead 110 part-second-hand dual-heated Mk 2a vehicles from the Eastern Region.

   2020 April 8, Howard Johnston, “East-ended? When the ECML was at risk”, in Rail, page 67