tú​láo​wú​gōng

to work to no avail

Senses

徒劳无功/ 徒勞無功 tú​láo​wú​gōng to work to no avail

To work in vain; to waste one's effort without achieving any results.

References

antonym 水到渠成/水到渠成 → 徒劳无功/徒勞無功
synonym 枉费心计/枉費心計 → 徒劳无功/徒勞無功