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3. for naught

for naught

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(all) for naught

(slightly formal)

without achievement or result Marge's time in jail wasn't all for naught – she earned a college degree while she was there.

Usage notes: sometimes, in less formal use, nothing is substituted for naught: I would hate to think that what we'd tried to do was all for nothing.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of naught (zero or nothing)

See also: naught