avail
avail — noun
1. the practical benefit or positive effect that comes from doing something, almost
the practical benefit or positive effect that comes from doing something, almost always used in negative or near-negative phrases such as 'to no avail' or 'of little avail'.
Sven shouted for help, but his cries were of no avail in the empty parking lot.
fixed pattern: of no avail
The lawyer's clever arguments were of little avail against such clear evidence.
of little avail + against [obstacle]
Ilya pushed the heavy door with all her strength, but her efforts were to no avail.
Grandma Rosa's old umbrella was of little avail against the heavy rain on the way to the market.
- success
the outcome 'to no avail' fails to deliver.
文法句型
of avail
to no avail
of little avail
用法筆記
Almost always appears in fixed negative phrases ('to no avail', 'of little avail', 'of no avail'). A bare positive use such as 'the medicine was of great avail' sounds archaic and is generally avoided in modern English.
常見錯誤
avail — verb
1. to bring real help or a useful result to a person or situation, usually appearin
to bring real help or a useful result to a person or situation, usually appearing in negative sentences that say the help was not enough.
All her careful planning availed her nothing when the storm flooded the basement.
pattern: avail somebody nothing
It availed Sven little to argue with the referee after the final whistle.
it avails somebody little + to-infinitive
All her training did not avail Wairimu when the new judges introduced an unfamiliar floor routine.
The old map availed the hikers nothing once the trail markers had been removed.
- fail
as a verb of result; pairs with 'fail somebody' versus 'avail somebody nothing'.
文法句型
avail + somebody/something
it avails somebody (nothing/little)
用法筆記
Almost always negative or near-negative ('availed nothing', 'availed little', 'will not avail'). A flat positive such as 'his speech availed the team' is theoretically possible but sounds stiff; speakers prefer 'helped' instead.
常見錯誤
2. to take an opportunity, service, or right that is being offered to you and use i
to take an opportunity, service, or right that is being offered to you and use it for your own benefit; nearly always reflexive in the form 'avail oneself of something'.
Guests are welcome to avail themselves of the hotel pool between seven and ten.
reflexive: avail oneself of [facility]
Dr. Xiomara availed herself of the free legal advice before signing the contract.
avail oneself of [opportunity]
Few students availed themselves of the chance to study abroad last summer.
Wren urged his neighbours to avail themselves of the new health screening at the clinic.
Stranded travellers may avail themselves of the embassy's emergency assistance after a natural disaster.
- use
much more common and neutral; 'use the offer' replaces 'avail oneself of the offer' in everyday speech.
- take advantage of
very close in meaning; slightly less formal and can suggest cleverness or even unfairness.
- make use of
neutral register; the closest plain-English equivalent of this sense.
文法句型
avail oneself of + noun
用法筆記
Almost always reflexive: subject and object are the same person ('avail myself / yourself / herself / themselves of …'). Distinguish from sense 1: this sense always has a thing being used after 'of'; sense 1 has no 'of' phrase and means 'be helpful to'.