Labor in vain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Labor in vain" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express that efforts or work have been wasted or are futile. Example: "Despite all the hours I put into the project, it felt like I was laboring in vain when the client rejected it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But, the Guinnesses do not labor in vain.

The New Yorker

The glib alluring notion that spins through 80 minutes of contentious dialogue is that beneath the surface of civilized behavior lurks an unquenchable animal impulse, a principle of aggression we labor in vain to suppress.

The New York Times

The long investigation by court and counsel was, indeed, labor in vain if, at last, riparian rights possessed by the lotowners should be decided not to be private property within the protection of the Constitution.

Cornell University

Several dozen pens inside hold the animals — chain link for the deer and emu; metal walls for the warthogs and bobcats; wire mesh for the tamarin monkeys and chickens — as a round-the-clock crew of zookeepers labor in vain to create an atmosphere of normalcy.

The New York Times

Defendants' more recent practice of evading CompuServe's filters by disguising the origin of their messages commandeers even more computer resources because CompuServe's computers are forced to store undeliverable e-mail messages and labor in vain to return the messages to an address that does not exist.

Harvard University

Henrik Rafaelsen, the first of three actors who play Peer Gynt at various stages in his life, brings a capering impishness to the early comic scenes, but he and the two performers who follow him (Endre Hellestveit and Sverre Bentzen) labor in vain to fully transmit the character's geniality, impulsiveness and appealing obstreperousness in the context of Mr. Wilson's pristinely articulated imagery.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The German Embassy tried in vain to correct the total.

Wikipedia

A federal judge ruled the health care reform law unconstitutional, and Senate Republicans tried in vain to repeal the law.

Huffington Post

LOOTERS STRIP THE SHIP Navy Officers From Lakehurst Study Wreckage, but Search in Vain for Instruments.

The New York Times

Hot has only gotten hotter since I set my sights on Duke, in vain.

The New York Times

Search in vain here for concrete advice for daughters: how should they be financially autonomous?

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Labor in vain" to emphasize the futility of an effort despite significant exertion. It's particularly effective when highlighting the preservation or restoration of an activity that ultimately proves unsuccessful or pointless.

Common error

Avoid using "Labor in vain" when the effort yields some results, however small. This phrase is most impactful when the effort is completely unproductive, not just partially so.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Labor in vain" primarily functions as a verbal phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that the action was performed without achieving the desired outcome. Ludwig's examples show its descriptive use in various contexts to emphasize futility.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

28%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "Labor in vain" is an uncommon but grammatically correct expression used to describe efforts that yield no positive results. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage in English. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic contexts, it serves to convey disappointment or the futility of an action. For situations demanding variety, alternatives such as "work in futility" or "effort wasted" can be used. A key consideration is ensuring that the phrase accurately reflects complete unproductivity, thus avoiding misuse. Overall, "Labor in vain" is a descriptive and impactful phrase for emphasizing wasted effort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Work in futility

Replaces "labor" with "work" and uses the noun "futility" instead of the prepositional phrase "in vain".

Effort wasted

Condenses the phrase to highlight the wasted nature of the effort.

Fruitless effort

Uses the adjective "fruitless" to describe the effort, emphasizing the lack of results.

Unproductive work

Focuses on the lack of productivity in the work done.

Abortive attempt

Suggests an attempt that failed to achieve its purpose.

Exercise in futility

Frames the activity as an example of futility.

A futile undertaking

Highlights the futility of the entire project or task.

Going through the motions

Indicates performing a task without real purpose or effect.

Beating a dead horse

An idiom suggesting that further effort is pointless.

Sisyphusian task

Alludes to the myth of Sisyphus, representing a never-ending and ultimately pointless task.

FAQs

How can I use "Labor in vain" in a sentence?

You can use "Labor in vain" to describe a situation where effort is expended without achieving the desired result. For example, "Despite all the hours I put into the project, it felt like I was "laboring in vain" when the client rejected it".

What does "Labor in vain" mean?

"Labor in vain" means to work or make an effort without success or a worthwhile result; to toil fruitlessly.

What are some alternatives to "Labor in vain"?

You can use alternatives like "work in futility", "effort wasted", or "fruitless effort" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "Labor in vain"?

Yes, "Labor in vain" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to express the idea of wasted effort. Ludwig AI confirms it.