1·She closed her eyes tightly in a vain attempt to hold back the tears.
她紧闭双眼，却无法忍住眼泪。
—— 《牛津词典》
2·It was a vain attempt to shift the responsibility for the murder to somebody else.
把这项谋杀的罪责转嫁于他人是徒劳之举。
—— 《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》
3·The drafting committee worked through the night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule.
起草委员会徒劳地通宵工作想按期完成工作。
—— 《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》
4·She made a vain attempt to stop him.
她试图阻止他，但是徒然。
5·He made a vain attempt to reach the drowning child.
他试图接近那个快淹死的小孩，但没有成功。
6·He made a vain attempt to reach the drowning child.
淹死的小孩，但没有成功。
7·She made a vain attempt to persuade him to lend her the money.
她企图劝他借钱给她，但那只是徒劳。
8·The caged bird flapped its wings in a vain attempt to fly away.
笼子哩的鸟拍打着翅膀想飞走，但却徒劳无功。
9·But as to the causes of these general causes we in vain attempt the discovery.
但是我们试图发掘一般性成因的由来，这个过程的尝试皆是枉然。
10·It was a vain attempt by whites to make an 7 Aboriginal child more like them.
白种人以为如此一来就可以把土著居民的孩子变得和他们大致一样，却不过是白费心机。