to no avail

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.

Example Sentences

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.

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Nnaji repeatedly tried to have her account restored to no avail.

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Over the course of the conflict, the United Nations has repeatedly called on member states to "refrain from any external interference" but to no avail.

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Ostfeld’s team recently had spent hours trying to buy Six Flags season passes, to no avail.

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Attempting a nap, Larette lies on the break room cot, eyes closed, to no avail.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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