Go down the drain Meaning in English
expression
Definition
If something goes down the drain, it is wasted or lost, often referring to money, time, or effort that has achieved nothing.
Usage & Nuances
This is an informal idiom, primarily used about wasted resources like money or effort. Commonly used in both spoken and written English. Not literal—never use for real drains. Related: 'all my hard work went down the drain.'
Example Sentences
All my savings went down the drain after the car accident.
basic
If we don't finish the project, our work will go down the drain.
basic
Don’t let your hopes go down the drain just because of one mistake.
basic
I spent hours on that essay, and now it's all gone down the drain because my computer crashed.
natural
Once the contract fell through, all our planning just went down the drain.
natural
Don't feel bad—sometimes things just go down the drain, no matter how hard you try.
natural