à quoi bon

what's the point of

→ à
phrase Uncommon #15,822
what's the point of Used to ask whether something is useful or worthwhile, often rhetorically.
FR: À quoi bon attendre plus longtemps ?
EN: What's the point of waiting any longer?

À quoi bon survivre, si on doit compter sur une telle chose?

What's the point of surviving if we have to rely on something like that?

— Nausicaä de la vallée du vent (1984)

Alors à quoi bon?

So what's the point?

À quoi bon la lecture de tels livres?

What is the point of reading such books?

Si tu le sens bien, à quoi bon attendre?

If you feel good about it, what's the point of waiting?

— On ne vit qu'une seule fois (2011)

Et à quoi bon?

And what’s the point?

— Delicatessen (1991)

À quoi bon faire cela?

What's the point of doing that?

À quoi bon une année?

What good is a year?

— Guerre et Paix (1968)

On a été un peu durs, mais à quoi bon tergiverser pour vous décevoir ensuite?

We were a bit harsh, but what’s the point of hesitating only to disappoint you afterward?

— Love Actually (2003)

Un cœur et un foie, à quoi bon?

A heart and a liver—what’s the point?

— Andhadhun (2018)

À quoi bon le réparer?

What's the point of repairing it?

À quoi bon faire ça?

What's the point of doing that?

Sinon, à quoi bon?

Otherwise, what's the point?

— Huit et demi (1963)

À quoi bon être armé si t'es incapable de courir?

What’s the point of being armed if you can’t run?

— Decision to Leave (2022)

À quoi bon ces chants?

What's the point of these songs?

— Wicked : Partie II (2025)

À quoi bon vouloir aller contre son destin?

What is the point of trying to go against one's destiny?

— De tout cœur (1998)

À quoi bon le sanctuaire!

What good is the sanctuary!

— Your Name. (2016)

Mais à quoi bon?

But what's the point?

— Salé, Sucré (1994)

À quoi bon insister si elle refuse?

What's the point of insisting if she refuses?

À quoi bon?

What's the point?

— Picnic (1955)

Et puis, à quoi bon changer maintenant?

And besides, what's the point of changing now?

— Arrietty, le petit monde des chapardeurs (2010)

On aurait pu prendre le sentier, à quoi bon escalader?

We could have taken the path, what was the point of climbing?

— Decision to Leave (2022)

À quoi bon continuer?

What's the point of carrying on?

— Adieu ma concubine (1993)

À quoi bon y penser?

What's the point of thinking about it?

— Mother (2009)