vain (redirected from vainly)

*proud as a peacock and *vain as a peacock

overly proud; vain. (*Also: as ~.) Mike's been strutting around proud as a peacock since he won that award. I sometimes think Elizabeth must spend all day admiring herself in a mirror. She's as vain as a peacock.

See also: proud

in vain

for no purpose; [done] as a failure. They rushed her to the hospital, but they did it in vain. We tried in vain to get her there on time.

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take somebody's name in vain  (humorous)

to say someone's name when they are not there, usually when you are criticizing them Did I hear someone taking my name in vain?

See also: name, take

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in vain

1. without success Melissa shifted about, trying in vain to find a comfortable position. Government agents tried in vain to kidnap him.

2. without any useful result Clegg said Friday's military operation went well, and that these soldiers did not die in vain. The president himself must make the argument, or all our work will be in vain.