Question

"All his efforts were a little avail" ,"All his efforts were

Answer 1

据牛津高阶英汉词典：

avail在作为名词时主要以习惯短语出现；

of no/little avail 或 to no/little avail 或 without avail

All his efforts were a little avail,非常别扭的表达,

应该用All his efforts were of little avail,比较正规!