go to waste
To be wasted or lost; not used.
The strawberries went to waste because there was nobody to pick them.
Joe's work on the model automobile went to waste when he dropped it.
lay waste
To cause wide and great damage to; destroy and leave in ruins; wreck.
Enemy soldiers laid waste the land.
waste away
To become more thin and weak every day.
Jane is wasting away with tuberculosis.
After Mrs. Barnes died, her husband wasted away with grief.
waste one's breath
waste breath
To speak or to argue with no result; do nothing by talking.
Спорить или обсуждать безрезультатно; не добиться ничего с помощью разговора.
The teacher saw that she was wasting her breath; the children refused to believe her.
I know what I want. You're wasting your breath.
Don’t waste your breath.
Не трать слова попусту.
Don’t argue with Frank any longer. You are wasting your breath trying to get him to agree with you.
I have already decided what I’m going to do. You can’t change my mind, so don't waste your breath.