Circle the drain意思
"Circle the drain" is an English idiom that has several meanings, depending on the context in which it is used. Here are a few common interpretations:
- Describing a situation where something or someone is in a state of decline or is about to fail. This is often used to refer to a company, organization, or individual that is nearing the end of its success or usefulness.
Example: "The company has been circling the drain for years, and it's only a matter of time before it goes bankrupt."
- Refers to a person who is constantly in trouble or in a state of crisis, often needing help to get out of difficult situations.
Example: "She's always circling the drain, getting into one mess after another."
- Describing a situation where someone is wasting time or effort on something that is going nowhere or is doomed to fail.
Example: "We've been circling the drain on this project for months, and it's time to cut our losses and move on."
- In a more literal sense, it can refer to the action of water going down a drain, especially in a sink or bathtub, as it spins around before disappearing.
Example: "The water is circling the drain, indicating that the plug is open and the water is draining away."
The origin of the phrase is believed to come from the literal action of water circling around a drain, but it has since taken on metaphorical meanings to describe various situations of decline or stagnation.