end in nothing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'end in nothing' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about a situation in which something does not end in success, or when something seems to lead to nothing. For example: "The research project I worked on for months seemed to end in nothing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In an accompanying music video for the track "Join My Militia," a scantily clad Mykki stumbles through a "Blair Witch Project -looking Project -lookingy the end) in nothing but a dead octopark

The New York Times

The domestic season has not become any shorter and there will be no representative byes over the Origin weeks, keeping the players and HQ on a collision course that will be solved by money and end in nothing but a cacophony of barking and posturing.

The Guardian - Sport

Her offer of oral sex comes out of nowhere -- out of desperation, presumably -- and though she tries to convince herself that it is the expression of an unforeseen generosity, and even appears to have a mental orgasm while ruminating on her own greatness of spirit, we slowly become aware that the whole thing is fakery and will end in nothing.

The New York Times - Books

How else can you explain an Orioles team that should have meekly gone into their good night after the crushing ending to Game 3? Yes, as Peter Schmuck writes in The Baltimore Sun, they have made the improbable into the ordinary, and as Mike Vaccaro writes in The New York Post, the teams' amazing stretch-run battle should end in nothing short of a winner-take-all game.

The New York Times

But he warned it needed broad political consensus or it would end in nothing: "You can't play politics with our prosperity.

BBC

The final line recalls an old English saying: "All his swans are turned to geese", meaning all his expectations end in nothing; all his boasting ends in smoke, like a person who fancies he sees a swan on a river but finds it to be only a goose.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

One of three new films, Dead or Alive starts off like thrash-metal yakuza and ends in nothing less than apocalypse.

The Guardian - Film

"Neither our domestic tranquility in peace nor our martial effort in war depend on compelling little children to participate in a ceremony which ends in nothing for them but a fear of spiritual condemnation," the two wrote.

The New York Times

Just weeks ago, I was jogging past a four-story condo under construction and froze at the sight of a workman scrambling down an astonishingly steep plywood incline that ended in nothing but a void.

The New York Times

That led to months of back-and-forth exchanges with a disorganised and overwhelmed Lebanese bureaucracy, ending in nothing but flagging up Mariney to the authorities.Thousands of Westerners live and work in Lebanon, but few have residency, work permits or pay tax thanks to the cost and time it takes to obtain.

The Economist

Its much touted deal with Zenith to produce an Internet television, dubbed the NetVision TV, ended in nothing, while other Asian consumer electronics companies that licensed Diba's technology never sold a single machine in the US.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "end in nothing", ensure the context clearly establishes what effort or action is failing to produce a meaningful result. For example, "Despite months of negotiation, the talks ended in nothing."

Common error

Avoid using "end in nothing" in situations that call for more nuanced descriptions of failure. Overusing it can make your writing sound melodramatic. Instead, consider alternatives that specify how something failed, such as "yielded minimal results" or "failed to meet expectations."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "end in nothing" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating the outcome or result of a particular action, process, or situation. It describes the final state as one lacking in positive or tangible results, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

21%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "end in nothing" is a grammatically correct and usable English expression. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's employed to describe scenarios where endeavors fail to yield positive outcomes or meaningful results. While not exceedingly common, it is consistently used across reputable news sources and general contexts to convey disappointment or futility. To enhance writing, consider employing it in contexts where the lack of outcome is central and avoid overuse to maintain a nuanced and impactful tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

end without result

This alternative is a direct and neutral way of indicating that something concludes without achieving its intended purpose.

yield no outcome

This alternative directly states that something produces no tangible or positive result, emphasizing the lack of achievement.

end in failure

This alternative is a more direct and negative assessment, explicitly stating that something culminates in an unsuccessful outcome.

come to naught

This alternative is a more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying "end in nothing", emphasizing the complete failure of an effort.

prove fruitless

This alternative indicates that an endeavor does not yield the desired outcome or benefit, often implying a sense of disappointment.

lead to nowhere

This alternative emphasizes the lack of progress or direction, suggesting a path that yields no advancement or result.

be in vain

This alternative is similar to "be all for nothing", highlighting the futility and wasted effort of an action or endeavor.

be all for nothing

This alternative stresses the wasted effort and resources, highlighting the disappointment of achieving no valuable outcome.

fall flat

This alternative suggests a failure to achieve the intended effect or impact, often used in the context of performances or ideas.

not pan out

This alternative is an informal way of saying that a plan or expectation did not succeed or materialize as hoped.

FAQs

How can I use "end in nothing" in a sentence?

You can use "end in nothing" to describe situations where efforts or actions fail to produce any meaningful result or positive outcome. For example, "All the planning "ended in nothing" when the event was canceled."

What are some alternatives to "end in nothing"?

Alternatives include phrases like "come to naught", "lead to nowhere", or "be all for nothing", which all convey a sense of futility or lack of success.

Is it correct to say "ended in nothing" or should it be "ends in nothing"?

Both "ended in nothing" and "ends in nothing" are grammatically correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Ended in nothing" is used for past events, while "ends in nothing" is used for present or general statements.

What's the difference between "end in nothing" and "result in failure"?

"End in nothing" implies a lack of any meaningful outcome, whereas "result in failure" specifically indicates an unsuccessful outcome. "Result in failure" is stronger, implying the effort not only didn't succeed but actively failed. "End in nothing" simply didn't produce anything of value.