inutilis (not useful): cassus (empty, hollow; then profitless, causeless; e.g., labores, vota, formido): inanis (empty, without substance; hence unreal, profitless; e.g., cogitatio: contentiones): vanus (empty, without any useful result; e.g., ictus, inceptum): irritus (done in vain; e.g., inceptum, preces, labor). (The words are found in this connection and order.) vanus et irritus: irritus et vanus. Useless talk [Vid: FRIVOLOUS]. Useless things, inutilia: cassa, inania, etc.: nugae (trifles). To take useless trouble, operam perdere; operam frustra insumere, consumere, conterere; frustra laborem suscipere: to be just taking so much useless trouble, oleum et operam perdere (Cic., proverbially): saxum sarrire (Proverbially, to hoe a rock, Martialis): imbrem in cribrum ingerere (to catch the rain in a sieve, proverbially, Plaut., Pseud., 1, 1, 100): laterem lavare (to wash a tile, proverbially, Ter., Phorm., 1, 4, 9). Useless for anything, inutilis alicui rei or ad aliquid: useless to anybody, inutilis ad alicujus usum: a totally useless person, homo ad nullam rem or ad nullam partem utilis: to be useless, inutilem esse; nulli usui esse.