In vain

[poli]

It means without success or with no good result. (Sisyfus kept rolling the rock up the hill sucessfully but in vain:banghead:) Is para menos an acceptable translation?

[JPablo]

Mmmh... :hmm:
Doesn't look so to me.
You could go with "en vano".
in vain = en vano, vanamente, inútilmente; it was all in vain todo fue en vano; thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain no tomarás el nombre de Dios en vano; who’s taking my name in vain? (hum) ¿quién está hablando de mí? :D

[poli]

OK. So in vain translates as en vano.

Does no es para menos mean with good reason? In context it seemed to mean not in vain .

Thank you Juan Pablo.

[JPablo]

Yes, it seems like you say, 'and with good reason'.
For example,
His dad got really angry, and with good reason.
Su padre se puso muy furioso, y no es para menos.

His brother was really hungry, and with good reason... after 12 hours without eating.
Su hermano estaba muy hambriento, y no es para menos... después de 12 horas sin comer. :)

[Perikles]

no es para menos.
Not a bad example of litotes. :D

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I agree with JPablo.

"No es para menos" is to say that something (someone's reaction, for example) is the least that was expected.

[Tomisimo]

En balde is another valid translation for in vain.