'Tis a hard battle where none escapes.

A battle is particularly severe when no one manages to escape its effects. The proverb measures the struggle by how widely its toll is felt.

Applied beyond combat, it describes a conflict or ordeal that affects everyone involved. The emphasis is on the hardship they share, not on who wins.

Use it to describe a contest or shared ordeal that has taken a toll on everyone involved. It emphasizes the breadth of the hardship without assigning blame or praising a victor.