down the plughole

phrase

informal

1

—used to describe something that is being wasted or lost

All my hard work went down the plughole.

You're pouring your money down the plughole.

2

—used to describe something that is getting much worse

The business is going down the plughole.

Examples of down the plughole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rosenblatt’s original plan for the play had been to show the publishers fighting to keep Dahl’s reputation and their profits from going down the plughole in the first act. — John Lahr, New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2026

Rhymes for down the plughole

• arteriole
• levamisole
• sitosterol
• amphibole
• asystole
• buttonhole
• casserole
• centriole
• decontrol
• glycerol
• metropole
• monopole