down the tubes
Definition
Meaning: Down the tubes describes a situation or effort that has failed completely or is irretrievably lost, often due to mismanagement or unforeseen setbacks..
La signification : Down the tubes signifie échouer complètement ou perdre quelque chose de manière irréversible, souvent dans un contexte de mauvaise gestion ou de revers imprévus.
Example: The company's expansion plans went down the tubes after the financial report revealed significant losses.
Grammar: Idiom. Used as an adverbial phrase to describe the complete failure of an endeavour or situation (e.g., “went down the tubes”).
Quote: “The only reason so many of them are going down the tubes is because they have ignored that advice for too long.” [@BlogMaverick]
N.B.: The phrase likely originates from the imagery of something valuable being flushed away, as through a drain or tube. In a boardroom, it underscores the gravity of financial or strategic failure.
Word Analysis
Français
»» Complètement fichu
»» Irrémédiablement perdu
»» À l'eau
»» Parti en fumée
Le projet est parti down the tubes après l'échec des négociations.
Les efforts de l'équipe sont partis down the tubes face à la crise économique.
English
»» Down the tubes
»» Down the drain
»» Up in smoke
The marketing campaign went up in smoke due to poor planning.
The merger was irretrievably lost after the shareholders’ vote.
Dialogue
CEO Thompson: "How’s the progress on the new product launch?"
CFO Patel: "I’m afraid it’s gone down the tubes. The supply chain issues were insurmountable."
CEO Thompson: "That’s absolutely unacceptable. We need to regroup immediately."
CFO Patel: "Agreed, we’re fully committed to finding a solution."
Etymology
Origin: Likely from early 20th-century American slang, evoking the image of something valuable being washed away through pipes or tubes, such as in plumbing.
Modern Usage: Used in corporate settings like board meetings to describe complete failure of plans, projects, or finances.
Grammar Note: Idiomatic phrase, typically used as an adverbial expression (e.g., “went down the tubes”). Not used as a standalone or as a noun.
Audience
Ideal for business professionals, executives, or corporate environments.
When to use: Use it when describing complete failure or loss in high-stakes situations. Example: “The acquisition deal went down the tubes after the audit revealed discrepancies.”
Extra! Extra!
For a visual explanation of down the tubes, check out the following videos:
Down the drain: meaning & examples
Down the tubes: meaning & examples
Wordreference
For more on our word of the day and its usage, visit WordReference for definitions, translations, and examples in context.
Here are some quick links for further exploration:
» English⇄English – Discuss and learn about words and their usage.
» English⇄French – Explore translations and linguistic nuances.
» Synonyms⇄Antonyms – Contextual variations, etc.
Common Expressions & Collocations
Down the tubes
Completely wasted or ruined, often referring to lost effort, money, or opportunities.
Example: "After the company went bankrupt, years of hard work went down the tubes."
Down the drain
Wasted or lost, typically referring to resources, time, or money.
Example: "All the money we invested in that failed project went down the drain."
Down the tubes vs. Down the drain
Both mean something is wasted, but "down the tubes" can imply a more complete or irreversible loss, while "down the drain" is more general.
Example: "His career went down the tubes after the scandal, but her savings just went down the drain on bad investments."
Go to waste
A similar phrase meaning something is unused or squandered.
Example: "If we don’t act now, all this effort will go to waste."
Flush away
Literal (water) or figurative (resources) meaning of losing something.
Example: "Poor financial decisions flushed away their retirement savings."
Squander
To waste something (money, time, opportunities) carelessly.
Example: "He squandered his inheritance on risky ventures."
Lost cause
A hopeless situation where further effort is pointless.
Example: "After the third failed attempt, they realised it was a lost cause."
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