“化为乌有”常见的英文表达有 “vanish into thin air”、“come to nothing” 或 “be reduced to nothing”。
vanish into thin air:强调突然、彻底地消失不见,就好像原本存在的东西瞬间蒸发到空气中一样,带有一种神秘或意外的意味。例如:The money he had saved for years vanished into thin air.(他积攒多年的钱一下子化为乌有了。)
come to nothing:侧重于表示原本有希望、有计划的事情最终没有实现,以失败告终,化为泡影。例如:All his efforts to get the promotion came to nothing.(他为获得晋升所做的一切努力都化为乌有了。)
be reduced to nothing:更强调从有到无的转变过程,有一种被削弱、被破坏到一无所有的感觉。例如:The once - prosperous town was reduced to nothing after the war.(这座曾经繁荣的小镇在战后化为乌有了 。)