to little purpose

Idioms  

1. Also, to no purpose. Of little or no use, in vain, as in Hiring a new lawyer will be to little purpose. The related phrases are sometimes combined in to little or no purpose and used as a general indicator of futility. To little purpose was first recorded in 1560. For a synonym, see to no avail; also see to good purpose.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

to little purpose

The Royal Court's publicists have been discreet about the subject of Joe Penhall's new play, but to little purpose.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 30, 2012

Unlike, say, The Turn Of The Screw, where the uncertainty is unsettling, here it just feels as if we are being led along to little purpose.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 11, 2010

Tens of thousands more soldiers did go, to little purpose; most of them also escaped although large numbers did not.

From New York Times ● Apr. 30, 2010

Often these changes dislocate students and teachers to little purpose.

From Time Magazine Archive

The teeth were rusty and dull and he sat in front of the fire with a rattail file and tried to sharpen them but to little purpose.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy