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〜てもともと

nothing to lose (if it fails)

Verb て-form + もともと · Noun / な-adj + でもともと

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てもともと says that failing would just leave you where you started, so you might as well try: 断られてもともとだから、頼んでみる, "I've got nothing to lose if they say no, so I'll ask".

もともと (元々) means "originally, from the start". So the logic is "even if it fails, I'm just back at zero". It's encouraging and upbeat.

The most famous version is だめでもともと, often shortened to ダメ元: ダメ元で応募してみた, "I applied, figuring I had nothing to lose". The second half is usually an attempt: やってみよう, 頼んでみる, 受けてみた.

Don't confuse it with てもいい, "it's okay to".

Examples

  • 失敗しっぱいしてもともとだ。挑戦ちょうせんしてみよう。

    We've got nothing to lose. Let's give it a try.

  • 断ことわられてもともとだから、頼たのんでみる。

    I've got nothing to lose if they say no, so I'll ask.

  • 負まけてもともとの気持きもちで戦たたかった。

    We played with nothing to lose.

  • 落おちてもともとだと思おもって、試験しけんを受うけてみた。

    I took the exam, figuring I had nothing to lose if I failed.

  • だめでもともと、やってみよう。

    We've got nothing to lose. Let's go for it.