To little/good/some/no purpose - Idioms by The Free Dictionary
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to little/good/some/no purpose

to good purpose

To something's most positive, most effective, or most beneficial utility. Twenty years later, he's finally putting those programming skills to good purpose, designing tracking software for local park rangers to help combat poaching. The seminar aims to help people channel their negative emotions and impulses to good purpose, translating that energy into creative expression. Yeah, I was laid off, but I turned my time off to good purpose and traveled the world.
See also: good, purpose

to little purpose

To no or an insignificant amount of usefulness or utility. That art degree has been put to little purpose, as I ended up getting a job as an accounts manager for a financial firm. HR is insisting that we all attend these meetings, but they're to little purpose if you ask me.
See also: little, purpose

to no purpose

To no or an insignificant amount of usefulness or utility. That art degree has been put to no purpose, as I ended up getting a job as an accounts manager for a financial firm. HR is insisting that we all attend these meetings, but they're to no purpose if you ask me.
See also: no, purpose

to some purpose

To some significant amount of usefulness or utility. I'm just glad to be putting this degree to some purpose after all these years. I'd be more enthusiastic about these meetings if I thought they were to some purpose other than to tick a box for HR.
See also: purpose
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

to good purpose

To effective use, as in A donation to the homeless shelter will be put to good purpose. This idiom was first recorded in 1553. Also see to little or no purpose.
See also: good, purpose

to little purpose

Also, to no purpose. Of little or no use, in vain, as in Hiring a new lawyer will be to little purpose. The related phrases are sometimes combined in to little or no purpose and used as a general indicator of futility. To little purpose was first recorded in 1560. For a synonym, see to no avail; also see to good purpose.
See also: little, purpose
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.

to little/good/some/no ˈpurpose

(formal) with little, good, etc. result or effect: Another meeting was held, to little purpose. ♢ She had used the profits to good purpose and upgraded their software.
See also: good, little, no, purpose
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

to good purpose

With good results.
See also: good, purpose
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
See also:
  • to good purpose
  • crowning glory
  • proof of the pudding, the
  • the proof of the pudding
  • do for
  • do for (someone or something)
  • done for
  • a track record
  • run its course, to
  • run/take its course


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