to little purpose

to little purpose
8. to no purpose or to little purpose or for no (good) purpose 徒劳无益地；毫无结果地；毫无成效地
- It was all to no purpose. 这完全徒劳无益。
- He spent a full hour talking to her but to little purpose. 他和她谈了整整一个小时, 但根本没什么用。
- Violence causes death and human misery for no purpose 暴力会造成毫无意义的死亡和人间苦难。
See: purpose

- 英语>简体中文, 英汉大词典

to little purpose
几乎徒劳地, 毫无成效地
- We spoke to little purpose—his mind was clearly made up already. 我们说的话几乎不起作用, 他显然已下定决心了。