Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to pour down the drain

to pour down the drain

6.0
Lose money, time, or effort by wasting it so it cannot be used
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : desperdiciar
  • All the money we invested in the project just poured down the drain when it was canceled.

Examples

  • She hated seeing her efforts pour down the drain after months of hard work.

  • If you aren't careful with electricity, a lot of energy will pour down the drain needlessly.

  • Don't pour down the drain your savings!

  • He always pours down the drain his hard-earned money.

  • He realized that all his hard work was just being poured down the drain with every bad decision.

  • After spending hours on the project, she felt like her efforts were poured down the drain when the funding was cut.

  • Investing in that failing startup felt like pouring down the drain my savings, as I saw no return on my money.

Synonyms

to squander
vsto pour down the drain
67 6.5

To use money, time, or chances in a foolish way

emphasizes irreversible loss rather than mere bad use
to piss away
vsto pour down the drain
  • Offensive
8 9.5

To waste time or money by being careless

stresses permanent loss that cannot be recovered
to throw money away
vsto pour down the drain
4 3.5

Spend money on things you do not need

is broader covering any valuable loss not only funds
to fritter away
vsto pour down the drain
4 6.0

Waste time or money on small unimportant things

means total irreversible loss rather than slow minor loss
to drain resources
vsto pour down the drain
2 4.6

To use up the money or help someone needs

focuses on sudden or complete loss rather than steady consumption
to pissing money up the wall
vsto pour down the drain
  • Offensive
9.9

To spend money carelessly and waste it

applies to all valuables lost permanently not only funds
to make ducks and drakes
vsto pour down the drain
  • Archaic
9.9

To waste money or other things by being careless

is about permanent loss rather than merely reckless play

Antonyms

to invest
715 3.5

To put money, time, or effort into something hoping for a future benefit

to utilize
  • Formal
224 4.9

To use something for a particular purpose

How Wasteful

to squander
67 6.5
to pour down the drain
  • Informal
6.0
to waste
∞ 1.0
to spend
∞ 1.0
to use
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

pour down the drain infinitive
poured down the drain past
poured down the drain past participle
pouring down the drain present participle
pours down the drain third person singular

Morphology

pour + down + the + drain

The meaning 'to waste something valuable' is largely derived from the literal image of pouring something so it goes down a drain and is irretrievably lost, so a learner who knows 'pour', 'down' and 'drain' can often infer the sense. However this is a metaphorical extension from physical loss to abstract resources and depends on cultural familiarity with the image, so the connection is not fully predictable without some exposure.

Etymology

The phrase pour down the drain comes from the picture of pouring water or something valuable into a sink and watching it go down into the drain, where it disappears. So it means 'to waste' time, money, or effort so it is lost and cannot be recovered.