circle the drain
verb1
Idiomatic, Informal To be in a rapid decline or in a state of downfall, especially as leading to an inevitable utter failure or destruction.
- Our emergency medical services are, nonetheless, circling the drain.1989 January 29, Brian D. Johnston, “L.A.'s Crippled Emergency Care:”, in Los Angeles Times, retrieved 17 Oct 2010:
- Presciently, the high-end Japanese bathroom-fixtures manufacturer Toto chose a time when the economy is circling the drain to launch its newest product—a $5,000 commode with a super-efficient flush.2008 October 10, Belinda Luscombe, “Just What the Economy Needs: A $5,000 Toilet”, in Time:
1 more example
- Needless to say, the guy on the phone would be watching his life circle the drain, imagining the horrific press and the life-destroying damage this false accusation would cause.2010, Douglas Coupland, Generation A, →ISBN, page 234:
- Related terms
- down the drain, down the tubes, downward spiral, go down the toilet