What Does "Down the Tubes" Mean?
"Down the tubes" is an English idiom. It means "ruined or destroyed."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "down the tubes" used in a sentence:- Our profits went down the tubes last quarter.
- Without proper oversight, the project could go down the tubes.
- Their relationship went down the tubes after the disagreement.

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 Tubes" 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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