B2idiominformalmoneyIELTS-friendly
down the drain
USUK
wasted or lost completely, especially money or effort
Often 'money down the drain' or 'go down the drain'. Close to Vietnamese 'đổ sông đổ biển'.
In context
I paid for a year at the gym but only went twice. That's money down the drain.
If the shop closes, all our hard work will go down the drain.
More idioms about money
- a nest eggan amount of money saved over time for the future, such as retirement
- a rip-offsomething that costs far more than it is really worth
- break the bankto cost more money than you can afford
- cost an arm and a legto be very expensive
- live beyond your meansto spend more money than you earn or can afford