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Down the Drain

What Does "Down the Drain" Mean?

homeidiomsDown the Drain
"Down the drain" is an English idiom. It means "wasted or lost."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "down the drain" used in a sentence:
  • All my efforts went down the drain when the company went bankrupt.
  • I feel like the last two years have gone down the drain.
  • Without proper planning, our profits could go down the drain.
meaning for down the drain

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Down the Drain" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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