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for nothing

[fər ˈnʌθɪŋ]
adverbial phrase
de graça; por nada; sem motivo
1. without payment; free of charge
I got these tickets for nothing.
Consegui estes ingressos de graça.
2. without achieving anything; in vain; for no purpose
All that effort was for nothing.
Todo aquele esforço foi em vão.
3. without any particular reason
He complained for nothing.
Ele reclamou sem motivo.
NYC Slang
for free; on the house
Synonyms
free of chargeat no costfor freein vainto no availfor no reason
Antonyms
for a priceat a costfor good reasonwith purpose

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
de graça; de balde; em vão
Most common usage in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
de balde; de graça
Colloquial preference for 'de balde'
São Paulo
de graça; de balde
Both terms widely used
Portugal
de graça; à toa; para nada
Portuguese tends to use 'à toa' more frequently

Related Idioms & Phrases

all for nothing
good for nothing
count for nothing
work for nothing
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