lose ground

I suppose they didn't want to lose ground by yawing, but as they came abreast of us they both opened fire.

Well, I will do my best to counterfeit, rather than lose ground in this new world, since thou sayest it is grown so precise.

While the interest of Britain thus triumphed in Spain, it seemed to lose ground at the court of Lisbon.

If their galley began to lose ground the petty officers would rain curses on their heads and blows on their backs.

In such a case he will show a remarkable presence of mind, choosing only the safest direction, though he may lose ground by it.

Indeed, I was so completely held that the first result of my twisting seemed only to make me lose ground.

The Bohemian began to lose ground in the highest courts of justice; gradually it was forced out from the inferior courts.

However, the bulldog quality still held; English manufacturers preferred to lose ground rather than change their methods.

Whether they would do so or lose ground must quickly appear.

And then he would take another of his bad spells, and lose ground again; and they would put by that bottle and try something else.