Down the Drain——前功盡棄

** expending effort or funds on a useless enterprise // to become worthless // to waste money utterly // spend hugely for nothing

~~白費心機；前功盡棄；盡付東流；每況愈下；破產；倒閉；失敗；泡湯；全輸光了；浪費掉

~~ down the toilet // down the tubes // down the sewer // down the sink // down the pipe // down the rathole // pull the plug // out the window // into the dirt/mud

!! This metaphor is a colloquial in the 1920s; it alludes to water going/flowing down a drain and being carried off.

（這個隱喻在1920年代是一個口語，它暗示着水從排水溝流下並且被沖走。）

>> Tommy secretly prepared and invited his girlfriend Sara’s family and friends to the birthday party and witness his marriage proposal. However, when Sara found out that her relatives and friends were all present, she was very upset. Tommy only kept the birthday party, and didn’t go through the marriage proposal, the effort of which went down the drain.

（Tommy為了女朋友Sara所舉行的生日派對及求婚活動，暗中籌備並邀請了她的家人及朋友出席見證，但當Sara發現親友在場時，很不高興，Tommy只保留生日派對，白費心機籌備求婚活動。）

>> Peter has just finished Form 5, with excellent grades and being first in the class. However, he suddenly insisted to drop out and start a business to sell Taiwanese milk tea. Parents, principals, teachers and classmates were unable to persuade him to continue his studies, and his academic work went down the drain.

（Peter剛完成中五，成績優異並獲全班第一，卻突然強烈要求輟學，創業賣台式奶茶，父母、校長、老師及同學均無法遊說他繼續學業，他的學業變得前功盡廢。）

學勤進修教育中心英語專科導師 李啟文 教授