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

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 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

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Democrats labored in vain to honor Congress's original promises and to defend the environment.

The New York Times

In 1955, seven writers, including Ben Hecht, labored, in vain, on the klutzy "Ulysses".

The New Yorker

Ms. Ripley and especially Mr. Emmick give witty bona-fide musical comedy performances, which may be laboring in vain.

The New York Times

MARRAKESH, Morocco — For the last seven months, the Obama administration has labored in vain to bring the Israelis and the Palestinians together, pushing for a loose quid pro quo under which Israel would freeze construction of Jewish settlements while its Arab neighbors undertook diplomatic steps to bolster Israel's confidence in its security.

The New York Times

Their lives are meaningless; they kick the shit out of each other at Cro-Mags ("Iron Skulls") shows; they are at war with another gang; their well-meaning but powerless English teacher is laboring in vain to help them appreciate Walt Whitman.

Vice

She spent decades crusading against child labor, proposing in vain a constitutional amendment against it; at the time of her writing, in the late thirties, she found the practice happily less prevalent: "We have made some progress, due largely I think to the adult need of the jobs that children used to get with little or no trouble".

The New Yorker

All last year, the forty-eight-year-old Midwestemer labored, largely in vain, to persuade the campaign to focus on America's economic anxieties.

The New Yorker

In 1993, labor fought that agreement in vain.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "labor in vain" when you want to emphasize not just that an effort failed, but that it was inherently pointless or misguided from the start.

Common error

Avoid using "labor in vain" to describe simple setbacks or minor inconveniences. The phrase implies a significant expenditure of effort that ultimately yields no positive outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "labor in vain" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a futile or unproductive action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable. It typically modifies a subject to express that their efforts are wasted.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "labor in vain" is a grammatically sound and usable idiom signifying futile or unproductive effort, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's primarily found in news and media contexts, expressing disappointment or criticism towards wasted endeavors. While alternatives like "fruitless effort" or "wasted effort" exist, "labor in vain" emphasizes the inherent pointlessness of the activity from the start. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a significant and ultimately unsuccessful exertion of effort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wasted effort

Uses the verb "wasted" to directly express that the effort was unproductive.

fruitless effort

Replaces the verb "labor" with the noun "effort" and uses the adjective "fruitless" to convey the lack of positive outcome.

futile endeavor

Substitutes both "labor" and "vain" with synonyms that emphasize the pointlessness of the activity.

unproductive work

Replaces "labor" with "work" and uses the adjective "unproductive" to highlight the lack of results.

effort in futility

Nominalizes the concept, focusing on the state of futility rather than the act of laboring.

pointless exercise

Emphasizes the lack of purpose or value in the activity.

abortive attempt

Focuses on the failure of the attempt to achieve a desired outcome.

exercises in futility

Highlights the repetitive and ultimately useless nature of the actions.

a lost cause

A more general idiom indicating that success is impossible.

beating a dead horse

An idiom describing the futility of continuing to pursue a matter that is already decided or unachievable.

FAQs

What does "labor in vain" mean?

The phrase "labor in vain" means to work or exert effort without achieving any meaningful result or success. It implies that the effort was ultimately futile or unproductive.

What are some alternatives to "labor in vain"?

You can use alternatives such as "fruitless effort", "futile endeavor", or "wasted effort" depending on the context.

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

You might say, "Despite all his preparations, the politician "labored in vain" to win the election" to suggest his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Is it appropriate to use "labor in vain" in formal writing?

Yes, "labor in vain" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a well-established idiom with a clear and readily understood meaning, as shown by its presence in publications like The New York Times.