to little purpose

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

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.

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On the 15th they played France, and took out their annoyance in physical style: in the opening exchanges Luis Monti – the first and only man to play in two World Cup finals for two different nations, also turning out for Italy in 1934 – fouled Lucien Laurent, who spent the rest of the match hobbling around to little purpose.

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The endlessly turning wheels of oxidation within the mitochondria would turn to little purpose if it were not for this all- important result.

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To little purpose, argues Ms Galindo, who is polite and soft-spoken despite the fierceness of her views.

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

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