Pour Down the Drain

What Does "Pour Down the Drain" Mean?

"Pour down the drain" is an English idiom. It means "to waste something, such as time, money, or effort, in a thoughtless or wasteful manner."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "pour down the drain" used in a sentence:

• All his hard work went down the drain when the project was canceled at the last minute.
• Spending your savings on frivolous purchases is like pouring money down the drain.
• She felt like she was pouring her time and energy down the drain in that dead-end job.

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 "Pour 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.

A Quick Test

You now know what "pour down the drain" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see! Show Instructions