vain (in vain)

Entry Definition
s/he tries to do it and fails, tries in vain to do it, tries unsuccessfully to do it; s/he tries in vain to get at it
unsuccessfully, failing in the attempt, in vain
s/he cannot stop h/, tries in vain to stop h/, tries and fails to stop h/
s/he tries to make it and fails, tries in vain to make it, tries to make it without success
s/he tries to make it for h/ and fails; s/he tries in vain to make it for h/
s/he asks (or tells) h/ in vain to do something
s/he tries in vain to reach it
s/he does not have chance to tell h/, s/he tries without success to tell h/
s/he fails to make h/, tries without success to make h/
pointlessly, for no apparent reason, without purpose, to no effect, in vain; falsely, fraudulently; (animal, plant) wild; (being, spirit) supernatural; (commerce) without cost, free, gratis
it is all for naught, is all in vain