in vain

en vano, inútilmente

Sin conseguir lo que se quería, a pesar de haberlo intentado.

En inglés sencillo: Without achieving what you wanted, despite trying.

• We waited in vain for a reply.
• She searched in vain for her missing ring.
• He tried in vain to open the locked door.

Sinónimos: unsuccessfully, fruitlessly

Antónimos: successfully

Expresiones frecuentes: try in vain, search in vain, wait in vain

en vano, irrespetuosamente

Sin el debido respeto, especialmente al usar un nombre sagrado a la ligera.

En inglés sencillo: Without proper respect, especially when using a religious name carelessly.

• They warned him against using God’s name in vain.
• She believes saying the Lord’s name in vain is wrong.
• The sermon discussed what it means to take God’s name in vain.

Cómo se usa: take someone’s name in vain (He was accused of taking God’s name in vain.)

Sinónimos: irreverently, disrespectfully

Antónimos: respectfully

Expresiones frecuentes: take something in vain, in vain again

inútil, en vano

Se dice de un esfuerzo que no ha conseguido el resultado deseado.

En inglés sencillo: If an effort is like this, it does not achieve the result you wanted.

• Our efforts were in vain.
• All that work was in vain because the event was canceled.
• Was her long struggle really in vain?

Sinónimos: unsuccessful, useless, fruitless

Antónimos: successful

Expresiones frecuentes: be in vain, all in vain