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drain

[dreyn]

drain Definition

  • 1to remove liquid from something by letting it flow away or allowing it to be absorbed
  • 2a pipe or channel that carries away waste water or sewage

Using drain: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "drain" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    She drained the pasta and added the sauce.

  • Example

    The battery is drained and needs to be recharged.

  • Example

    The sink drain is clogged with hair.

  • Example

    The rainwater flows into the drain.

drain Synonyms and Antonyms

Antonyms for drain

Idioms Using drain

  • to be wasted or lost

    Example

    All my savings went down the drain when I lost my job.

  • to overwhelm or inundate someone or something with too much of something

    Example

    The sudden influx of orders swamped the small business, causing delays and mistakes.

  • to abandon or leave someone in a difficult or helpless situation

    Example

    The company went bankrupt and left its employees high and dry without any severance pay.

Phrases with drain

  • the emigration of highly trained or intelligent people from a particular country

    Example

    The brain drain in the tech industry has been a concern for many countries.

  • wasted or lost, often used to describe money or effort

    Example

    All the hard work we did on the project went down the drain when the client canceled it.

  • to eliminate corruption or inefficiency in an organization or system

    Example

    The new administration promised to drain the swamp and reform the government.

Origins of drain

from Old English 'drēahnian', meaning 'to strain off'

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Summary: drain in Brief

The verb 'drain' [dreyn] means to remove liquid from something by letting it flow away or allowing it to be absorbed. It can also refer to a pipe or channel that carries away waste water or sewage. Examples include 'She drained the pasta and added the sauce.' and 'The sink drain is clogged with hair.' Phrases like 'brain drain' and 'down the drain' denote loss or waste, while 'drain the swamp' means to eliminate corruption or inefficiency.

How do native speakers use this expression?