wasted effort

Newsom, by dropping out, simply spared himself any more wasted effort.

Taking the trouble to keep at a distance, to make himself inconspicuous, seemed almost wasted effort.

It would be wasted effort to make an item of this incident; but he could publish it in his own fashion.

Volume of sound does not increase his lingual gifts, and spelling the article is likewise wasted effort.

However, the speech and the theatrical delivery of the gifted courtier were wasted effort.

Wasted effort is the mildest judgment that can be passed upon these abortive attempts.