All that effort for nothing with 水の泡になる
水の泡になる, also 水の泡となる, says that work or plans have come to nothing. Like a bubble bursting, the hoped-for result disappears. English equivalents include “go up in smoke” and “go down the drain”.
Literal Meaning
This expression literally translates as “to become bubbles of water”.
Usage Notes
Use it when work that seemed likely to succeed produces nothing or is suddenly undone. The phrase expresses disappointment and frustration at the wasted effort.
Examples
All that murder planning for nothing with 水の泡になる
Idiom Explanation: All that effort for nothing with 水の泡になる
After discovering who the murderer is, Conan explains why the murderer went after Ran. He pinpoints when Ran unknowingly discovered a vital clue.
- コナン:
- 「あの時、蘭の事気にもとめてなかったが、もし思い出されたらせっかく組み立てたこの殺人計画がすべて水の泡になる…」
- “Ran didn't think anything of it at the time, but if she remembered it, all the murderous plans he worked so hard on putting together would go up in smoke.”
Losing all that built-up friendship with 水の泡になる
Idiom Explanation: All that effort for nothing with 水の泡になる
Although Fujimiya loses her memory of friends every Monday morning, she and Hase have become close enough that she feels comfortable around him when meeting him “for the first time” at school each Monday. Hase fears that progress will be lost during summer break.
- 長谷:
- 「俺はせっかくの今までの努力が水の泡になるのが嫌なの！」
- “I hate seeing all my hard work up to now go down the drain!”
- 「藤宮さんも頑張ってきたのに！」
- “Fujimiya-san has worked so hard, too!”
- 桐生:
- 「あーはいはい」
- “Yeah, got it.”