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Go Down the Drain

What Does "Go Down the Drain" Mean?

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"Go down the drain" is an English idiom. It means "to be wasted or lost, often referring to time, effort, or resources."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "go down the drain" used in a sentence:
  • All their hard work seemed to be going down the drain as the project faced numerous setbacks.
  • She felt like her years of training were going down the drain when she failed to secure a spot on the team.
  • They realized that their investment was going down the drain as the company's stock value continued to plummet.
meaning for go 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 "Go 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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