All that effort for nothing with 水の泡になる
The expression 水の泡になる (also 水の泡となる) literally translates to “to become bubbles of water”. It is used to describe something that has been wasted, lost, or ruined, much like how bubbles quickly dissipate and disappear. The phrase conveys the idea of efforts, work, or plans that come to nothing or are in vain.
It might be used when something that was expected to succeed or had potential ends up being fruitless or completely undone. The nuance is generally one of disappointment or frustration, emphasizing the futility or the sudden disappearance of something that was once tangible.
Similar expressions in English include “go up in flames”, “go up in smoke”, “go down the drain”, and “gone to waste”.
