down the drain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Not long ago, a woman stood at the sink and watched a year of her life run down the drain.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

"If the extension doesn't happen, we are looking at the $10m investment going down the drain," a worried Mr Maluki explains.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2025

As you shower and brush your teeth, run your coffeemaker and water your houseplants, you’ll be reusing drops that only recently went down the drain.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2024

Most washing machines – especially older ones – don’t have filters that can trap such tiny pollution, and so the plastic washes down the drain.

From NewsForKids.net • Apr. 11, 2024

I stare at the muddied water as it swirls down the drain.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed