done like (a) dinner

done like (a) dinner

Having failed or lost. Primarily heard in Australia. Your team will be done like dinner if they play against the all-star team. I just finished my paper, but class starts in five minutes, and the printer isn't working, so I'm done like a dinner.See also: dinner, done, like

done like a dinner

AUSTRALIANIf you are done like a dinner in a competitive situation, your opponents defeat you completely, often in an unfair way. These laws mean that foreign competitors get done like a dinner.See also: dinner, done, like

done like (a) dinner

utterly defeated or outwitted. Australian & Canadian informal 1978 C. Green The Sun Is Up I had old Splinters Maloney the fishing inspector knocking on me door wanting to see me licence. Of course I was done like a dinner. See also: dinner, done, like