He knew he was on a hiding to nothing when he took on the project alone.
Он знал, что пытается сделать невозможное, когда взялся за проект в одиночку.
Definitions
A situation in which there is no chance of success or benefit, often implying that any effort will be wasted or unappreciated. The phrase is commonly used in British English to describe a task or position where one is likely to be blamed if things go wrong but unlikely to receive credit if things go well.
