in vain | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic)Withoutsuccessor aresult;endinginfailure.1863November 19,Abraham Lincoln,Dedicatory Remarks(Gettysburg Address)‎[1], nearSoldiers' National Cemetery,→LCCN,Bliss copy, page 2:[…]that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have diedin vain[…]19th c., Friedrich NietzscheOn the mountains of truth you can never climbin vain.1956[1880],Johanna Spyri,Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page46:For some time Grannie triedin vainto comfort her.1960March, J. P. Wilson, E. N. C. Haywood, “The route through the Peak: Derby to Manchester. Part One”, inTrains Illustrated, page149:All these great plans werein vain, however, for in the cold dawn following the "Mania" years of 1845–46 the M.B.M. & M.J.R. project was truncated to an 11+1⁄2-mile line from Ambergate to Rowsley.1980,Eddie Schwartz, “Hit Me with Your Best Shot”, inCrimes of Passion‎[2], performed byPat Benatar:Knock me down, it's allin vainI get right back on my feet again; (idiomatic)In adisrespectfulmanner, withouthonoringthepropermeaning;insincerelyor without properrespect.1611,The Holy Bible,[…](King James Version), London:[…]Robert Barker,[…],→OCLC,Exodus20:7, column 2:Thou ſhalt not take the Name of theLordthy Godin vaine:[…]1817,Sir Walter Scott,Rob Roy, published2015, page 4:Methinks I see him even now in my mind's eye;— the firm and upright figure,— the step, quick and determined, — the eye, which shot so keen and so penetrating a glance,— the features on which care had already planted wrinkles, and hear his language, in which he never wasted wordin vain, expressed in a voice which had sometimes an occasional harshness, far from the intention of the speaker.2013, Mandy Merck,The Sexual Subject: Screen Reader in Sexuality:A fetishist regime attempts to annul the separation of image and spectator, to reinstall an immediate relation that promises (in vain) to provide satisfaction to desire itself.2015, Kent Gramm,The Prayer of Jesus: A Reading of the Lord’s Prayer, page69:This petition is the reverse side of the commandment against taking God's namein vain.2015, Jimmy R. Watson,Big Jesus: A Pastor’s Struggle with Christology, page119:McLaren's task, it seems, is to set Jesus in a more appropriate and biblical context so that we won't use his name “in vain.”2016,Alexandre Dumas, translated by Frank J. Morlock,The Count of Monte Cristo, Part IV (play), page247:That's fine. I know you won't engage your wordin vain.

Examples:

EN: The eloquent arguments by Curio, a supporter of Caesar, are in vain.
ES: Los elocuentes argumentos de Curio, partidario de César, son en vano.
EN: Pompey's troops struggle heroically but in vain.
ES: Las tropas de Pompeyo luchan con heroísmo pero en vano.
EN: Michele continues writing letters from prison, but in vain ...
ES: Michele continuaba escribiendo cartas desde la prisión, pero en vano...
EN: Taloc quivered, but his anger was in vain...
ES: Taloc temblaba de rabia... en vano.
EN: "Every tear was in vain."
ES: "Tanto llorar por nada."
EN: "...and I hope you will answer my passionate wish, and that this afternoon, you won't leave me waiting in vain.
ES: ...y espero que satisfagas mi ferviente deseo y no me dejes esperarte en vano esta tarde. Tu adorador, Frits Zons
EN: After a night of waiting awake in vain...
ES: Tras una noche de espera sin dormir...
EN: Was all the misery and self sacrifice in the trenches in vain, that in a few months' time you could have become so heartless?"
ES: ¿Ha sido en vano toda esa miseria y abnegación en las trincheras, pudiendo llegar a ser tan cruel en pocos meses?
EN: Priests and monks preached in vain.
ES: Curas y monjes predicaban en vano.
EN: Although I do not curse you, but wish with all my heart... that you have not sacrificed me and my daughter... whom I have named Victorine after you, in vain.
ES: "... no te maldigo, pero deseo con todo mi corazón "que no nos hayas sacrificado a mí y a mi hija, "a la que bauticé Victorine por ti, en vano. "
ES: "... no te maldigo, pero deseo con todo mi corazón "que no nos hayas sacrificado a mí y a mi hija, "a la que bauticé Victorine por ti, en vano. "
EN: The seeking shall find, the praying shall gain. More than words can say. No one shall seek salvation in vain.
ES: Los que buscan, encontrarán; nadie buscará la salvación en vano.
EN: Everything in vain, I will not let you.
ES: No es mi Berta, todo en vano, ¡no te dejaré!"
EN: You shall not in vain have shown devotion to the Republic.
ES: No has probado en vano tu devoción a la República.
EN: "I must talk with the Captain of the Storm Bird as soom as possible Our search here for the Buddha-head diamond was in vain."
ES: Debo hablar con el Capitán del Storm Bird tan pronto como sea posible. Nuestra búsqueda del diamante "La Cabeza de Buda" fue en vano.
EN: If there is anything in this story that brings home to men the suffering caused by our selfishness, perhaps it will not be in vain.
ES: Si de alguna manera esta historia, hace ver a los hombres... El sufrimiento causado por nuestro egoísmo, entonces no será un esfuerzo inútil.

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