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

To deodorize and tackle slow-draining sinks, sprinkle a bit of baking soda down the drain before pouring a generous amount of apple cider vinegar. — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Aug. 2026

Double-Bag Leak-Prone Items Pour non-greasy liquids down the drain or into a jar to dispose of them. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026

So, that's a thousand dollars down the drain for a brand-new mother. — Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026

Wipe used brushes with a rag and peel off old paint instead of washing it down the drain. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for down the drain

• aeroplane
• appertain
• ascertain
• capitaine
• cassegrain
• cellophane
• chatelaine
• counterpane
• entertain
• halothane
• hurricane
• hyperplane