PhrasesHub

Go down the drain

    Definitions

      • wasted or lost
        Refers to something that has been completely wasted or lost, often due to poor decisions or actions. Can also be used to describe a situation or effort that has failed or had no positive outcome.

      • deteriorate or decline
        Used to describe a gradual decline or deterioration of something, such as a relationship, health, or situation. Can also refer to a loss of value or quality over time.

      • flushed or drained
        Refers to something being drained or emptied, often in a negative or undesirable way. Can also be used to describe a sudden loss or depletion of resources, such as money or energy.

    Examples of Go down the drain

    • The company's profits have been going down the drain for the past year.

      This idiom is used to describe a situation where something is being wasted or lost quickly and irreversibly, as if it were being poured down a drain. In this example, the company's profits are decreasing rapidly and seem to be disappearing without any hope of recovery.

    • I've been working on this project for hours, and it's going down the drain because I can't seem to figure out how to fix this error.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used in a different context, to describe a situation where a lot of effort and time is being wasted because of a problem or mistake. In this case, the speaker has been working hard on a project, but because of an error, it seems as though all that effort is being wasted, as if it were being poured down a drain.

    • The government's efforts to combat climate change have been going down the drain due to a lack of funding and political will.

      This example demonstrates how the idiom can be used to describe a situation where a lack of resources or support is causing a problem to worsen. In this case, the government's attempts to address climate change are being hindered by a lack of funding and political will, causing the problem to worsen, as if it were being poured down a drain.

    • After the team's poor performance in the first half, it seemed like the game was going down the drain.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe a situation where a negative outcome seems inevitable. In this case, the team's poor performance in the first half of the game made it seem as though the game was going to be lost, as if the outcome were being poured down a drain.

    • The company's reputation has been going down the drain ever since the scandal broke.

      This example demonstrates how the idiom can be used to describe a situation where a negative reputation or image is developing. In this case, the company's reputation has been damaged by a scandal, causing it to worsen, as if it were being poured down a drain.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "go down the drain" is used to describe something that has been completely wasted, lost, or has deteriorated over time. It can refer to a variety of situations, from a failed effort or decision to a gradual decline or sudden loss of resources. Overall, the phrase conveys a sense of negativity and disappointment.

    In some cases, the phrase may also be used to warn or caution against engaging in a particular activity or course of action, as it implies that there will be no positive outcome or benefit. This usage highlights the idea of futility and serves as a discouragement.

    Origin of "Go down the drain"

    The origin of this idiom is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated from the plumbing industry. In the early 1900s, many homes in America did not have indoor plumbing and instead used outhouses or chamber pots. When the contents of these receptacles were emptied, they were often dumped into a drain, which would then carry the waste away. This process was referred to as "going down the drain," and the phrase eventually evolved to be used figuratively.

    Another possible origin of the idiom is from the practice of disposing of unwanted or spoiled food by pouring it down the kitchen drain. In this sense, the food is literally going down the drain and being wasted.

    Overall, the idiom "go down the drain" has its roots in literal actions of disposing waste, but has evolved to encompass a wider range of meanings and uses in everyday language.