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

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The next day it was agreed that Alan should fend for himself till sunset; but as soon as it began to grow dark, he should lie in the fields by the roadside near to Newhalls, and stir for naught until he heard me whistling. Kidnapped by Stevenson, Robert Louis View in context He went dreaming about, thinking only of his fairy and caring for naught else in the world. A Tramp Abroad by Twain, Mark View in context This man, too, was paid by the mold--or rather for perfect castings, nearly half his work going for naught. The Jungle by Sinclair, Upton View in context			for better or for worse for better or worse for certain for chicken feed for Christ's sake for crying out loud For crying out loud! for days on end for fear of for free for God's sake for good for good measure for goodness sake for goodness' sake for hours on end for instance for keeps for kicks for kicks and for laughs; for giggles for life for love nor money for miles for my money for my sins for naught for nothing for old times' sake for one thing for openers for own sake for part for Pete's sake For Pete's sake! for quids for real for safekeeping for sake for sale For shame! for short for some reason for starters for sure for that matter for the asking for the best for the better for the birds for the devil of it for the duration			For Maximum Value For Me to Know, For You to Find Out For me to poop on! For Members Only for mere discussion only For Miles For More Information For Mother Earth For My Best Friend For My Entertainment For My Eyes Only For My Girlfriend For my heart For My Information For My Innovation For My Kountry For My Lady For My Life For My Lover for my money For my Next Miracle For My Own Information for my part for my part for my part for my part for my sins for naught For Necessary Action For Nerds Only For next loop For No Apparent Reason For No One For No Particular Reason For No Reason for nothing for nothing for nothing for nothing For Official Use For Official Use Only For Official Use Only Privacy Sensitive For Official Use Only/Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals For Ohio By Ohio For Old Time's Sake for old times' sake For On-Line For On-Line Computer Users for once for once for one for one party for one thing for one’s good for one’s interest for openers for openers for openers

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