The expression quot; More was lost in Cuba quot; It makes reference to the war in the United States defeated the Spanish Navy during the Cuban revolution in 1868-1898 in which Spain lost its colonies of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. It is an analogy to minimize any loss or failure by comparing it with another of greater importance, such as when Spain lost its colonial empire. The full expression would be: more is lost in Cuba and they returned to singing.
