to\ no\ avail

to\ no\ avail
• to no avail
• of no avail
I. adj. phr. formal
Having no effect; useless, unsuccessful.

Tom's practicing was of no avail. He was sick on the day of the game.

Mary's attempts to learn embroidering were to no avail.

II. adv. phr. formal
Without result; unsuccessfully.

John tried to pull the heavy cart, but to no avail.

Mary studied hard for the test but to no avail.

Compare: in vain

Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • avail — avail·a·bil·i·ty; avail·a·ble; un·avail·able; avail; avail·a·ble·ness; avail·a·bly; un·avail·able·ness; un·avail·ably; un·avail·ing·ly; …   English syllables

  • Avail — A*vail , v. i. To be of use or advantage; to answer the purpose; to have strength, force, or efficacy sufficient to accomplish the object; as, the plea in bar must avail, that is, be sufficient to defeat the suit; this scheme will not avail;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • avail — 1. The noun is used frequently in the somewhat literary phrases of no avail and to little/no avail, meaning ‘having little or no use or effective result’, and poses no problems. 2. There are also straightforward verb uses that are also slightly… …   Modern English usage

  • Avail — sind eine US amerikanische Melodic Hardcore Band aus Richmond, Virginia. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Beschreibung 2 Geschichte 3 Besetzung 4 Diskografi …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Avail — Жанр Хардкор панк Годы 1987 по настоящее Страна …   Википедия

  • Avail — A*vail , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Availed} (?); p. pr. & vb. n. {Availing}.] [OE. availen, fr. F. ? (L. ad) + valoir to be worth, fr. L. valere to be strong, to be worth. See {Valiant}.] 1. To turn to the advantage of; to be of service to; to profit; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • avail — [ə vāl′] vi., vt. [ME availen < OFr a (L ad), to + valoir, to be worth < L valere, to be strong: see VALUE] to be of use, help, worth, or advantage (to), as in accomplishing an end [will force alone avail us?] n. 1. effective use or help;… …   English World dictionary

  • avail yourself of something — formal phrase if you avail yourself of something, you use it Only a few companies have availed themselves of the free training programme. Thesaurus: to use something, or to be usedsynonym Main entry: avail * * * aˈvail yourself of sth …   Useful english dictionary

  • Avail — A*vail , n. 1. Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; value; as, labor, without economy, is of little avail. [1913 Webster] The avail of a deathbed repentance. Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster] 2. pl. Proceeds; as, the avails of a sale by auction.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • avail — ► VERB 1) (avail oneself of) use or take advantage of. 2) help or benefit. ► NOUN ▪ use or benefit: his protests were to little avail. ORIGIN Latin valere be strong, be of value …   English terms dictionary

  • avail — (v.) c.1300, availen, apparently a French compound formed in English from O.Fr. a to + vailen to avail, from vaill , present stem of valoir be worth, from L. valere (see VALIANT (Cf. valiant)). Related: Availed; AVAILING (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

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