in vain

基本解释

Our efforts were not in vain.; We didn't waste our energy.
我们的力气没有白费。
《新英汉大辞典》
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
并且你们若不是徒然相信，能以持守我所传给你们的，就必因这福音得救。
But unless he manages to pacify the people of the Delta and so secure its pipelines and refineries, the reforms will be in vain.
但除非他设法平息了三角洲地区的民众并保证管道和炼油厂的安全，这些改革都将只是徒然。

It is rather for us,the living, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that,from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain;
"For we assert," he says, "nature does nothing in vain and man alone " among the animals has speech.
他说，“因为我们主张自然演变并不无道理,而人类独立于其它动物之外,是因为我们有辩论能力。
耶鲁公开课 - 政治哲学导论课程节选
Specifically you'll see that the rationale for observing the Sabbath is different. God's name in Deuteronomy 5 is not to be used in a vain oath as opposed to a false oath. There are differences in the meaning.
你会发现两者对守安息日习俗的论述是特别不同的,《申命记》第五章的描述是，不可以妄称上帝的名,而不是不可以以上帝的名义作假誓，它们表达的意思。
耶鲁公开课 - 旧约导论课程节选

In vain has it touted the completed or continuing trials of 111 other defendants.
ECONOMIST: The Hague war-crimes tribunal