to no avail

Idioms  

1. Also, of little or no avail. Of no use or advantage, ineffective, as in All his shouting was to no avail; no one could hear him, or The life jacket was of little or no avail. This idiom uses avail in the sense of “advantage” or “assistance,” a usage dating from the mid-1400s. Also see to little purpose.

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Example Sentences

In my own years of reporting and research, I attempted to locate Byers numerous times to no avail.

From Slate

He started his search in early October and applied to CVS, Best Buy and a slew of other retailers - to no avail.

From BBC

She said another lock appeared to have been tampered with "using a crowbar or similar tool", but to no avail.

From BBC

Since the shutdown began, members of the Republican-controlled US Senate have repeatedly voted - to no avail - in favour of the same short-term funding bill to reopen the government with no luck.

From BBC

Stephanie Hoover, an artist and researcher who’s published three books with History Press, also put out a public ask about the deal on LinkedIn to no avail, even though she’s long been connected with many Arcadia writers.

From Slate

Related Words

• fruitless
• hollow
• impractical
• ineffective
• ineffectual
• insufficient
• trivial
• unproductive
• unprofitable
• unsuccessful
• useless
• vain
• worthless