Fight a losing battle
Get off to a good start
Put up a good fight
Be no match for someone
Be in a league of their own
To be better than anyone else at doing something.
To be not as good, strong, clever, etc as someone you are competing against.
To work very hard, to fight, to compete in a difficult situation.
To try hard to do something when there is no chance taht you will succeed.
To begin an activity succesfully.