down the drain

Slang definitions & phrases for down the drain

down the drain

adverb phrase

To a futile end; to waste: All his best efforts seemed to go down the drain (1930+)

Related Terms

pour money down the drain


Idioms and Phrases with down the 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. [ ; c. 1920 ]
For a synonym, see down the tubes