in vain

en vain, inutilement

Sans obtenir le résultat souhaité, malgré les efforts fournis.

En anglais simple : 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.

Synonymes : unsuccessfully, fruitlessly

Contraires : successfully

Expressions courantes : try in vain, search in vain, wait in vain

en vain, irrespectueusement

Sans le respect nécessaire, notamment en employant un nom sacré à la légère.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : take someone’s name in vain (He was accused of taking God’s name in vain.)

Synonymes : irreverently, disrespectfully

Contraires : respectfully

Expressions courantes : take something in vain, in vain again

vain, inutile

Se dit d’un effort qui n’a pas permis d’obtenir le résultat souhaité.

En anglais simple : 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?

Synonymes : unsuccessful, useless, fruitless

Contraires : successful

Expressions courantes : be in vain, all in vain