单词 | don't waste your breath |
释义 | > as lemmasdon't waste your breath P7. to waste (one's) breath and variants: to speak without bringing about any worthwhile result; to speak or argue pointlessly. Now frequently in don't waste your breath and similar negative constructions, used to indicate that there is little point in talking about something.Cf. to waste words, to waste wind at waste v. 9d, to save one's breath at save v. Phrases 6. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > be of no avail [verb (intransitive)] > expend effort in vain > speak in vain to waste breathc1540 to waste (one's) breath1572 to talk to a brick wall1873 1572 T. Palfreyman Divine Medit. To Rdr. sig. ***.vi Whilest thy tongue onely oft babbleth, and vaynely wastest muche breath. 1679 T. D'Urfey Squire Oldsapp i. i. 2 Hold! and prethee waste thy Breath in no more of these lavish praises. 1749 W. Melmoth tr. Quinctilian Dialogue conc. Oratory in Lett. by Sir Thomas Fitzosborne II. 307 They did not think it necessary to declaim in the schools, and idly waste their breath upon feigned or frivolous controversies. 1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam cxviii. 185 I trust I have not wasted breath . View more context for this quotation 1920 Muskogee (Okla.) Times-Democrat 24 Mar. 4/1 Politicians don't waste breath on opponents who aren't in the running. 2013 Daily Rec. & Sunday Mail (Nexis) 30 June (First ed.) (Features section) 17 Explaining your point of view isn't likely to change things until she's ready to hear it. So I wouldn't waste your breath. < as lemmas |
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