down the drain
phrase
: to a state of being wasted or irretrievably lost
All their hard work went down the drain.
Examples of down the drain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Prime Day extravaganza might be behind us, but that doesn't mean all the savings have swirled down the drain.
—
Kelsey Fogarty,
PC Magazine,
1 July 2026
Pour one gallon of hot water down the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar.
—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
28 June 2026
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Kelsey Fogarty,
PC Magazine,
1 July 2026
Pour one gallon of hot water down the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar.
—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
28 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Down the drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/down%20the%20drain. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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