avail
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Related to avail: to no avail
avail (oneself) of (something)
To utilize an available resource. I was so overwhelmed trying to get my house ready for the party that I availed myself of a local cleaning service. My dear students, I encourage you to avail yourself of the campus library as much as possible. I miss being able to avail myself of the free counseling center, as I did while I was in grad school.
come to no avail
To have no efficacy or effect; to be futile. All my protests over the decision to fire Jeff came to no avail. We have written innumerable letters of complaint to the city, but so far it has come to no avail. Our efforts to keep the farm came to no avail in the end.
of little avail
Of or having very little or no benefit, efficacy, or effect. We did our best to keep Sarah from finding out about her dad, but it was of little avail. I protested of little avail to keep Jeff in the company.
of no avail
Of or having very little or no benefit, efficacy, or effect. We did our best to keep Sarah from finding out about her dad, but it was of no avail. I protested of no avail to keep Jeff in the company.
to little avail
Having or with very little or no benefit, efficacy, or effect. We did our best to keep Sarah from finding out about her dad, but to little avail. All my protesting over the decision to fire Jeff was to little avail.
to no avail
Having or with very little benefit, efficacy, or effect. We did our best to keep Sarah from finding out the party to no avail. All my protesting over the decision to fire Jeff was to no avail.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
avail oneself of something
to help oneself by making use of something that is available. We availed ourselves of Tom's goodwill and let him repair the fence. The campers availed themselves of the first chance in a week to take a shower.
to no avail
and of no availCliché with no effect; unsuccessful. All of my efforts were to no avail. Everything I did to help was of no avail. Nothing worked.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
avail oneself of
1. Take advantage of, benefit by. For example, To get a better mortgage, he availed himself of the employee credit union. [Late 1500s]
2. Use, employ, as in I'll avail myself of the first cab to come along. [Mid-1800s]
to no avail
Also, of little or no avail. Of no use or advantage, ineffective, as in All his shouting was to no avail; no one could hear him, or The life jacket was of little or no avail. This idiom uses avail in the sense of "advantage" or "assistance," a usage dating from the mid-1400s. Also see to little purpose.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
of little/no aˈvail
(formal) of little or no use: Your ability to argue is of little avail if you get your facts wrong.to little/no aˈvail
(formal) with little or no success: The doctors tried everything to keep him alive but to no avail.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
avail (oneself) of
To make use of.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.