only to find

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	New2grammar  #544892  Tue, 22 Jul 08 08:32 AM What's the meaning of 'only to find"? Is the following correct? I tried so hard looking for her whereabouts only to find it on a site that I haven't visited in years. Does it mean that I finally found it after searching for a long time? Thanks.    New2grammar Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006 Veteran Member (7,670) Who wants to go sailing around the world with me?

	Marius Hancu  #544942  Tue, 22 Jul 08 12:19 PM  Use this dictionary,  I gave you already the right free access -- only   Function: adverb  b : with nevertheless the final outcome or result <won a great deal, only to lose it all later on>  http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com ----------     Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Montreal, Canada Veteran Member (11,673)
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	New2grammar  #544946  Tue, 22 Jul 08 12:29 PM I thought the phrase was an idiom. I just looked it up in my dictionary and only has the same definition as yours. With the final result; nevertheless: received a raise only to be laid off. However, I'm not sure I know how to apply it, especially when my understanding of nevertheless is not very good. Did I use it correctly in my original example?    New2grammar
Idioms

	optilang  #544985  Tue, 22 Jul 08 02:07 PM I tried so hard looking for her whereabouts only to find it on a site that I haven't visited in years. Yes you used it correctly.    optilang Joined on Tue, May 13 2008 Poland Senior Member (2,175) OptiNative British English Speaker Wherever I may roam, I'm still a Londoner.

	New2grammar  #545145  Tue, 22 Jul 08 11:52 PM Does it mean that I finally found it after searching for a long time?    New2grammar

	Marius Hancu  #545149  Tue, 22 Jul 08 11:56 PM > Does it mean that I finally found it after searching for a long time? Not necessarily, but it could. What is shows is that the alternative showed up with much less effort and  a bit of chance.      Marius Hancu

	New2grammar  #545154  Wed, 23 Jul 08 12:04 AM Marius Hancu much less effort and  a bit of chance This sounds like the opposite of what comes before. I sense that only works like in constrast. Am I right?    New2grammar

	Marius Hancu  #545159  Wed, 23 Jul 08 12:16 AM   No, but I won't insist. Read more examples at Google books and find the meaning yourself.    Marius Hancu

	New2grammar  #545166  Wed, 23 Jul 08 12:28 AM I have seen and heard this usage many times which is why I thought "only to find" was an idiom. But I still don't quite understand it. Maybe another expert could help me interpret the meaning better.    New2grammar
Idioms