go for nothing
1. To happen or be done in vain. Said of an effort that has resulted in failure. All of my hard work on that budget report went for nothing when the computer system crashed. The team's efforts to make the playoffs went for nothing—they got eliminated on the last day of the season. I tried to convey the urgency of the matter to her, but it went for nothing when she hung up on me.
2. To be sold in exchange for little money. It's OK if this stuff goes for nothing, I just don't want to have to move it to the new place. The furniture company is having a liquidation sale at the moment, so they're letting most of their inventory go for nothing. The only reason that valuable piece went for nothing is because the seller didn't know it's true worth.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
go for nothing
1. Lit. [for something] to be done for no purpose. All our work went for nothing. Our efforts at helping out went for nothing.
2. Fig. [for something] to be sold for a very low price. This merchandise can go for nothing; let's just clear it out at 90 percent off. I don't want this good stuff to just go for nothing.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
go for nothing
Be useless, serve no purpose. For example,
He lost the case, so all our efforts on his behalf went for nothing. [Late 1500s] Also see
go for, def. 2.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.