it comes to nothing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it comes to nothing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that an effort or endeavor has resulted in no significant outcome or success. Example: "After months of planning and hard work, the project ultimately comes to nothing, leaving the team disappointed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

It comes to nothing.

The Guardian - Sport

Fleetwood break but it comes to nothing.

The Guardian - Sport

It comes to nothing except a particularly unpleasant clash of heads between Drogba and Zabaleta.

The Guardian - Sport

The Czechs opt for a short corner, and, as is the way with most short corners, it comes to nothing.

The New York Times

That's exactly what you want!" But what if it comes to nothing, he was asked.

The New York Times

It comes to nothing, but it's a symbolic moment: at times this has been a complete mismatch.

The Guardian - Sport

8 min: Another free kick to Newcastle after Morgan challenges Carroll, but again it comes to nothing.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

It came to nothing.

The Economist

In the end, it came to nothing.

Independent

It came to nothing as Tommaso Allan covered back.

The Guardian - Sport

One man submitted her name for three jobs at UBS, but it came to nothing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it comes to nothing" to succinctly express that an action, plan, or effort has failed to produce any positive or meaningful result. It's particularly effective when you want to convey a sense of disappointment or futility.

Common error

Avoid literal interpretations of "it comes to nothing". The phrase doesn't necessarily imply that something physically transforms into 'nothing', but rather that it fails to achieve its intended purpose or have any significant effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it comes to nothing" functions as an idiomatic expression, primarily serving as a predicate in a sentence. It describes the state of an action, plan, or effort that ultimately fails to achieve a meaningful outcome. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the idiomatic phrase "it comes to nothing" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to convey that an action or plan has failed to produce any significant result. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it maintains a neutral register, making it versatile for various communication scenarios. Alternatives such as "it amounts to naught" and "it ends in failure" can be used to add nuanced meaning. Be mindful of its idiomatic nature and avoid literal interpretations for clarity and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it amounts to naught

Emphasizes a complete lack of value or consequence, using a more archaic tone.

it ends in failure

Focuses on the unsuccessful conclusion of an endeavor.

it yields no result

Highlights the absence of any tangible outcome or product.

it proves fruitless

Suggests a lack of productivity or positive outcome despite effort.

it falls flat

Implies a lack of impact or success, often used for performances or attempts.

it's all for naught

Similar to "it amounts to naught", emphasizing wasted effort.

it goes nowhere

Indicates a lack of progress or advancement.

it doesn't pan out

Suggests a failure to materialize or succeed as planned.

it avails nothing

A more formal way of saying that something is ineffective or useless.

it comes to zip

Emphasizes a lack of any meaningful outcome, using informal language.

FAQs

How can I use "it comes to nothing" in a sentence?

You can use "it comes to nothing" to describe situations where effort or planning fails to produce results. For example, "Despite all our preparations, the project "it comes to nothing"."

What are some alternatives to "it comes to nothing"?

Alternatives include "it amounts to naught", "it ends in failure", or "it yields no result", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it came to nothing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it came to nothing" is grammatically correct. It's the past tense form of the phrase, used to describe something that failed to produce results in the past.

What's the difference between "it comes to nothing" and "it amounts to nothing"?

While similar in meaning, "it comes to nothing" often implies a process or series of actions that ultimately lead to no result, whereas "it amounts to nothing" can refer to a situation, plan, or idea that has no value or consequence.