THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Down the drain
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Wasted or lost, with no useful result.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- Without a backup, a week of editing went down the drain.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
Without a backup, a week of editing went ________.
Show the answer
Down the drain — Wasted or lost, with no useful result.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Down the drain” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
Wasted or lost, with no useful result.
Compare: Without a backup, a week of editing went down the drain.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use this informal expression when effort, money or an opportunity has been wasted. It often conveys disappointment.
More examples in context
- If nobody uses the equipment, that money will go down the drain.
- I did not want all our preparation to go down the drain.
Usage note
A common pattern is “go down the drain”. The expression describes waste or loss; it does not simply mean that something was expensive.
A short conversation
A: Did you recover the deleted presentation?
B: Yes, thankfully. I thought all my work had gone down the drain.
A: Let’s save another copy now.
One more practice question
A cancelled event leaves you with decorations you cannot use or return. What has happened to the money spent on them?
A. It has gone down the drain.
B. It has been saved for another purchase.
Check your answer
A. The money has been wasted because the decorations no longer serve their purpose.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.