come to naught

USAGE SUMMARY

"come to naught" is a correct phrase and is commonly used in written English.
It means to fail or be unsuccessful. Example: All of her efforts to make her business successful came to naught when the economy crashed. Another example: Despite months of planning, the event ultimately came to naught due to bad weather.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But so far, weeks of talks have come to naught.

Independent

"We all know this will come to naught.

The New York Times

So far, those diplomatic efforts have come to naught.

The New York Times

Alas, I suspect this intervention will come to naught.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Lukashenko's efforts to draw on fellow autocrats have also come to naught.

The New York Times

As happened in that boom, most of these ideas will come to naught.

The Economist

And all attempts to create a public list of vulnerable buildings have come to naught.

The Economist

On the other hand, great striving may come to naught without luck.

The New York Times

Previous peace overtures have been made, and all have come to naught.

The Economist

It too will bang on about how the "reforms" that you support have come to naught.

The Economist

His plans to raise €10 billion ($12 billion) through privatisation this year have come to naught.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come to naught" to emphasize that significant effort or resources were invested in something that ultimately failed. It adds a tone of disappointment or futility.

Common error

Avoid using "come to naught" when a simpler term like "fail" suffices. This idiom implies a greater degree of wasted effort or potential that did not materialize.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come to naught" functions as a predicate in a sentence, expressing the outcome or result of an action or endeavor. It indicates that something has failed or been unsuccessful. Ludwig's examples show this phrase used to describe failed negotiations, plans, and efforts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

27%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

4%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "come to naught" is a grammatically sound and frequently used idiomatic phrase that means to fail or be unsuccessful. Ludwig AI indicates its validity. It typically conveys a sense of disappointment or futility when efforts do not yield the desired results. Predominantly found in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts, the expression maintains a neutral to formal tone. Alternative phrases like "come to nothing" and "be of no avail" offer similar meanings. While the phrase is common, it should be used judiciously to emphasize wasted effort and potential, rather than simply denoting failure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come to nothing

This alternative is more common and directly implies a lack of positive outcome.

be of no avail

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the ineffectiveness of efforts.

prove futile

This alternative emphasizes the inherent uselessness of the endeavor.

fall flat

This alternative is more informal and suggests a disappointing failure.

end in failure

This alternative directly states the unsuccessful conclusion of an attempt.

bear no fruit

This alternative uses a metaphor to describe the lack of positive results.

be in vain

This alternative emphasizes the wasted effort and lack of purpose.

not pan out

This alternative is an informal idiom indicating that a plan did not succeed.

go down the drain

This alternative suggests that resources or efforts were wasted without benefit.

vanish into thin air

This alternative emphasizes the complete disappearance of expected results.

FAQs

What does "come to naught" mean?

"Come to naught" means to fail, be unsuccessful, or amount to nothing. It suggests that efforts or plans have not produced the desired result.

How can I use "come to naught" in a sentence?

Example: "The peace talks came to naught after the opposing sides failed to reach an agreement."

What are some alternatives to "come to naught"?

You can use alternatives like "come to nothing", "be of no avail", or "prove futile".

Is "come to naught" formal or informal?

"Come to naught" is considered a relatively formal expression, often found in written English and more serious contexts than everyday conversation.