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.

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Example Sentences

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

Still, without careful guidelines, Carter's time could be frittered away 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