vain
adj
veɪn
adj
1
someone
who
is
vain
is
too
proud
of
their
good
looks,
abilities,
or
position
–
used
to
show
disapproval
自负的，自视过高的〔含贬义〕;
Men
can
be
just
as
vain
as
women.
男人有时会和女人一样虚荣。
2
in vain
a.
without
success
in
spite
of
your
efforts
b.
without
purpose
or
without
positive
results
白白地
Police
searched
in
vain
for
the
missing
gunman.
警方搜寻失踪的持枪歹徒，但毫无结果。
Altman
swore
that
his
son’s
death
would
not
be
in
vain.
奥尔特曼发誓他的儿子不会白死。
3
a
vain
attempt,
hope
or
search
fails
to
achieve
the
result
you
wanted
徒劳的
vain
attempt/effort/bid
The
young
mother
died
in
a
vain
attempt
to
save
her
drowning
son.
那位年轻母亲为营救溺水的儿子而身亡。
4
vain threat/promise etc
a
threat,
promise
etc
that
is
not
worrying
because
the
person
cannot
do
what
they
say
they
will
[文] 空洞的威胁/承诺等
literary
The
instructor
struggled
vainly
to
open
his
parachute.
教官拼命想打开降落伞，但没有成功。