Austin was less optimistic, but he didn't want to waste precious time in a fruitless argument.

Rather than waste time in fruitless argument, I used the sleep wand.

If this is the case, then it's probably best to ignore the fruitless argument, reframe the debate and start thinking something else.

After months of fruitless arguments, he was given a blunt lecture about the proper behavior of tributary barbarians and sent home.

There was a fruitless argument.

"Dr. McCoy, are we about to have another fruitless argument about diagnosis?"

Time was too short to allow diversion into fruitless and divisive argument.

After some fruitless argument on Venie's part, everybody agreed I had a free kick coming.

When no hostages were freed, the group's three days were spent in fruitless argument with low- and middle-level Iranians.

As regards the choice of headquarters, I hope it will be as operational as possible and that we will avoid fruitless arguments.