(all) for naught

without achievement or result.

Marge's time in jail wasn't all for naught – she earned a college degree while she was there.

Usage notes: sometimes, in less formal use, nothing is substituted for naught:

I would hate to think that what we'd tried to do was all for nothing.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of naught (= zero or nothing)

• have your beady eye on someone
• have your beady eye on something
• have your cake and eat it
• have your cake and eat it too
• have your day in court
• have your ducks in a row
• have your ear to the ground
• have your end away
• have your eye on
• have your eye on someone
• have your eye on something
• have your feet on the ground
• have your finger on the button
• have your finger on the pulse
• have your fingers in the till
• have your guts for garters
• have your hand in the till
• have your hands full
• have your head in the clouds
• have your head screwed on
• have your head screwed on right
• have your head screwed on the right way
• have your head stuck up arse
• have your head stuck up your arse
• have your head up arse