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in a vain attempt to stop vs in a vain attempt to

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings and usage. "In a vain attempt to stop" implies that the action was taken to try to stop something, while "in a vain attempt to" leaves the purpose of the action open-ended. They are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes.

Last updated: March 20, 2024 • 1279 views

in a vain attempt to stop

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It implies that an action was taken with the goal of stopping something, but was unsuccessful.

This phrase is used to describe an action that was carried out with the intention of stopping a particular outcome, but ultimately failed in achieving that goal.

Examples:

  • He ran in a vain attempt to stop the train from leaving the station.
  • She shouted in a vain attempt to stop the argument from escalating.
  • The company implemented new policies in a vain attempt to boost employee morale.
  • The government imposed strict regulations in a vain attempt to control the spread of the virus.
  • The teacher intervened in a vain attempt to prevent the students from fighting.
  • There's a story of an Iraqi archaeologist lying down in front of a bulldozer in a vain attempt to stop its advance. BBCFeb 27, 2016. PrevNext. Copyright © 2016 ...
  • Two and a half years later, Bush's "friend" was holed up in Ardmore, Okla., in a vain attempt to stop a bone-crunchingly partisan redistricting of Texas that could ...
  • ... after five minutes of extra time, Duckhouse broke his leg colliding with Peter Doherty in a vain attempt to stop him scoring the opening goal. In those days there ...
  • Sep 15, 2014 ... In the opening scenes of A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Arthur Dent lies down in front of a bulldozer in a vain attempt to stop it from ...

in a vain attempt to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It leaves the purpose of the action open-ended, without specifying a particular goal.

This phrase is used to describe an action that was taken with a sense of futility or hopelessness, without specifying the specific outcome or goal of the action.

Examples:

  • He tried in a vain attempt to make her understand.
  • She searched in a vain attempt to find her lost keys.
  • They argued in a vain attempt to resolve their differences.
  • The team practiced in a vain attempt to improve their performance.
  • She smiled in a vain attempt to hide her disappointment.
  • Peering into the night she strained her eyes in a vain attempt to discover a light on the lake. Where I have no faith myself, I should in vain attempt to plant it in ...
  • And thereupon he would get out one or another of his manuscripts, such as " Adventure," and read it over and over in a vain attempt to vindicate the editorial ...
  • ... unimportant, fruitless, unproductive, abortive, unprofitable, time-wasting, unavailing, nugatory They worked all night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule.
  • There's a story of an Iraqi archaeologist lying down in front of a bulldozer in a vain attempt to stop its advance. BBCFeb 27, 2016. PrevNext. Copyright © 2016 ...

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