go down the tubes
phrase
informal
1
: to fail or become ruined
His health is going down the tubes.
2
: to be wasted or lost
All my hard work went down the tubes.
Cite this Entry
“Go down the tubes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go%20down%20the%20tubes. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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