白费

Save your breath to cool your porridge.

不要白费口舌了。

To argue with him is like beating the air.

他辩论是白费气力。

In making that plea he will breathe in vain.

他做那种恳求是白费口舌的。

I feel like I’m just wasting my breath trying to explain things to him.

我觉得跟他直是白费唇舌。

Our labour will not be lost.

我们的努力不会白费。

Trying to sell overcoats in midsummer is a real mug's game.

大夏天推销大衣, 真是白费力气。

Mr. Taylor’s present behaviour stultifies his previous efforts.

泰勒先生前的行为使他过去的努力全白费了。

I tried to chuff her up in vain.

我想让她高兴起来,但是白费力气。

Hurling his arms and legs about wildly, he kept afloat but wasted much effort.

他用胳在水中乱划, 这样虽可以漂浮, 但却白费了许多力气。

All my efforts were vain.

我的一切努力都白费了。

Pam’s flogging a dead horse trying to organize the theatre trip. It’s quite obvious that nobody’s interested.

帕姆想组织剧团巡迴演出，无疑是白费心机。很明显没有人感兴趣。