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down the drain

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down the drain

wasted or lost down the toilet I'm scared I'm going to be out of a job, and my 12 years of experience will be down the drain.

Usage notes: often used with go: We cannot afford to let our train system go down the drain.

See also: down, drain

down the drain

  (British, American & Australian informal) also down the gurgler (Australian informal)

if work or money goes down the drain, it is wasted Then our funding was withdrawn and two years' work went down the drain. Say he gives up his training, that's four thousand pounds down the gurgler.

See also: down, drain

down the drain

On the way to being lost or wasted; disappearing. For example, Buying new furniture when they can't take it with them is just pouring money down the drain , or During the Depression huge fortunes went down the drain. This metaphoric term alludes to water going down a drain and being carried off. [Colloquial; c. 1920] For a synonym, see down the tubes.

See also: down, drain

down the drain

mod. gone; wasted. A lot of money went down the drain in that Wilson deal.

See also: down, drain

down the drain

To or into the condition of being wasted or lost: All of our best laid plans are down the drain.

See also: down, drain