down the drain
/ˌdaʊn ðə ˈdreɪn/INFORMAL · C2
Meaning
wasted, with nothing to show for it
Examples
- 1When the trip was cancelled, all our deposits went down the drain.
- 2Months of practice went down the drain when the concert was called off.
- 3Paying for a gym you never use is just money down the drain.
- 4All his hard work on the project went down the drain when the company closed.
- 5Is all the money we spent on the old car now down the drain?
Grammar
Usually after go or be, or in pour money down the drain. The phrase itself does not change.
More idioms about success
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →against all oddsalthough success seemed very unlikelymiss the boatto lose a chance by acting too slowlyfall flatto fail to have the effect that was intendedmake the gradeto be good enough to succeeda flash in the pana success that happens once and does not lastriding highbeing very successful at the moment
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
Here you get a couple of questions. The app gives you 16 practice modes, native equivalents and spaced repetition that tells you when it’s time to refresh.
