Pour down the drain Meaning in English
expression
ˈpɔɹ/ /ˈdaʊn/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈdɹeɪn
POR DOWN thuh (or thee) DRAYN
pˈɔː/ /dˈaʊn/ /ðə, ði/ /dɹˈeɪn
PAW DOWN thuh (or thee) DRAYN
Definition
To waste something completely, as if throwing it away with no benefit. Often used for money, time, or effort.
Usage & Nuances
This informal idiom is used with 'money', 'effort', 'resources', and sometimes 'opportunity' or 'investment'. Typical structure: 'pour X down the drain'. Not used literally for physically pouring liquids.
Spanish: tirar por la borda - desperdiciarPortuguese (BR): jogar pelo ralo - desperdiçarPortuguese (PT): deitar pelo cano abaixo - desperdiçarChinese (Simplified): 白白浪费 - 白扔了Chinese (Traditional): 白白浪費 - 白扔了Hindi: बेकार करना - पानी में बहा देनाArabic: يضيع هباءً - يُهدرBengali: পূর্ণভাবে বৃথা করা - পানিতে ফেলা (অর্থনৈতিক বা প্রচেষ্টা নিয়ে)Russian: выбросить на ветер - спустить впустуюJapanese: 無駄にする - ドブに捨てるVietnamese: đổ xuống sông xuống biển - lãng phí hoàn toànKorean: 허비하다 - 물거품이 되다Turkish: boşa harcamak - çöpe atmakUrdu: ضائع کر دینا - بے کار کرناIndonesian: sia-sia - dibuang percuma
Example Sentences
She felt like all her hard work was poured down the drain.
basic
If you quit now, all the money will be poured down the drain.
basic
Don’t pour your chances down the drain by being late.
basic
All that training just got poured down the drain when the event was canceled.
natural
We shouldn’t let our investment be poured down the drain like that.
natural
Don’t just watch your effort get poured down the drain—do something!
natural