What does the idiom "down the drain" mean?
The phrase down the drain is often used in English, but what does this idiom mean? When idioms are used in the right situations, they strengthen communication and enrich the language. You can communicate more effectively by learning the meaning of down the drain.
Meaning of "down the drain"
Meaning
The phrase “down the drain” is a popular idiom used to describe something that has been irretrievably lost or rendered useless. This phrase suggests that whatever has been “lost” is no longer salvageable and has been rendered worthless because it is effectively gone forever. This phrase is commonly used to convey a sense of disappointment or failure.
Etymology
The phrase “down the drain” is believed to have originated from the plumbing industry in the late 19th century. The phrase “down the drain” would have been used to describe something that had been washed away in the sewers, as something that is “down the drain” is assumed to be gone forever and never retrievable. This phrase would eventually transition from the plumbing industry and be used in everyday vernacular by the early-mid 20th century, becoming a popular idiom in the process.
Usage
The phrase “down the drain” is typically used to describe the feeling of disappointment or failure related to something that has been disregarded and rendered useless. This phrase is often used to describe the feeling of having worked hard on something with the expectation of it succeeding, only to have it fail and end up being “down the drain”. This phrase can also be used to describe a wasted opportunity or wasted resources, as something that is “down the drain” is not coming back.
Example Sentences
- My hard work and efforts went down the drain when the project failed.
- I was so disappointed when my plans all went down the drain.
- She was crushed when her dream of becoming an actress went down the drain.
- We wasted so much money on the project and it all went down the drain.
- All that time studying for the exam went down the drain when I failed.
The Global Spread of English Idioms
As English has become a global language, its idioms have spread far beyond the borders of the UK and USA. For instance, the idiom "beat around the bush" has equivalents in many other languages, such as "tourner autour du pot" in French and "dar vueltas al asunto" in Spanish. Meanwhile, other idioms have been adapted for local contexts, such as the Russian idiom "?? ???? ???????" (ne svoya rubashka), which translates to "not one's own shirt," meaning to be in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.
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