I was uselessly trying to readjust the monkey around my belly.

Anne was about twenty feet away, doubled over at the waist, trying uselessly to break her captor's grip on her hair.

She fought it as she tried uselessly to fight him.

Some tried uselessly to scramble up the wall and attack from behind.

Hands like steel clamps tightened around his throat as he tried uselessly to push the masked figure back.

Stacey put her arms around Susan, trying uselessly to comfort her.

"Don't," she said, trying uselessly to twist her head aside.

Linden thrust against him, trying uselessly to force him aside.

Both of them drew back as far as they could before it hit bottom, uselessly trying to hide in the shadows.

She says, trying uselessly to console me: 'What are you so long for in your face?