in vain

phr

• ① 徒然地,无效地
  • He didn't die in vain.他没有白死。
  • She tried to stop him, but in vain.她试图阻止他,但没用。
  • He tried in vain to save his son from drowning.他试图救他儿子免得溺死,但是徒然。

• ② 随便地,胡乱地
  • take the name of God in vain=take God's name in vain妄用上帝之名(★出自圣经「出埃及记」)
  • take a person's name in vain轻蔑地叫某人的名字