Down the drain is a popular idiom used to describe a consequence or outcome of a situation that has been rendered futile or ineffectual. There are many synonyms for this phrase that can be used interchangeably, including wasted, squandered, lost, gone, and flushed away. These terms are often used in contexts where something has failed to produce the desired result or has resulted in a negative outcome. Other synonyms for down the drain include futile, futilely, ineffective, abortive, fruitless, and ineffective. Ultimately, whatever term is used, the meaning remains the same: something that was once valuable or useful is now gone forever.