E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Pyrrhic Victory (A).
A ruinous victory. Pyrrhus, after his victory over the Romans, near the river Siris, said
to those sent to congratulate him, “One more such victory and Pyrrhus is undone.”
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“The railway companies see that in fighting their customers they gain but a very Pyrrhic sort of victory.”—Newspaper article, Feb. 13th, 1893.
