vain

en vain

Sans rien accomplir d’utile ni servir à quoi que ce soit.

En anglais simple : Without achieving anything useful or serving any purpose.

• We searched in vain.
• She hoped their sacrifice had not been in vain.
• Did we spend all that money in vain?

Comment l'utiliser : in vain (He called for help in vain.)

Synonymes : pointless, fruitless

Expressions courantes : in vain, die in vain, work in vain

vaniteux

Trop fier de son apparence ou de ses capacités, et désireux d’être admiré.

En anglais simple : Too proud of your appearance or abilities, and wanting others to admire you.

• He is rather vain.
• She was vain about her beautiful hair.
• The vain actor demanded a larger photograph of himself.

Comment l'utiliser : vain about something (He is vain about his looks.)

Synonymes : conceited, self-admiring

Contraires : modest, humble

Expressions courantes : vain person, rather vain, vain about something

vain, infructueux

Qui n’obtient pas le résultat souhaité.

En anglais simple : Failing to achieve the result you wanted.

• We made a vain attempt to stop him.
• Their efforts to save the tree were vain.
• She waited in the vain hope that he would return.

Synonymes : unsuccessful, futile

Contraires : successful

Expressions courantes : vain attempt, vain effort, vain hope, vain struggle