brain drain

plural brain drains

1. idiomaticThe migration of educated or talented people from less economically advanced areas to more economically advanced areas, especially to large cities or more developed nations.

   Fortunately, the often-discussed problem of "the brain drain" is not as serious in agriculture as in most other fields, particularly the "hard sciences."

   1955, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Proceedings, Issues 6-12, page 60

   1 more example

   Former HS2 Ltd chairman Sir David Higgins provided a timely reminder of why Britain needs HS2 in a letter to The Times on September 25, in which he asked: "Why are so few FTSE 100 companies based outside the South East? Why is there such a brain drain of graduates from the North? Why do northern cities underperform compared with their European counterparts?

   2023 October 4, Philip Haigh, “HS2's rising costs: government only has itself to blame”, in RAIL, number 993, page 53

   Antonyms: brain gain

2. informalmedicineA Jackson-Pratt drain.

present singular third person brain drains · participle present brain draining · participle past brain drained · past brain drained · alternative brain-drain

1. idiomatictransitiveuncommonOf a nation or society, to be deprived of educated or talented people, who in turn migrate to larger cities or more developed nations.
2. idiomaticintransitiveuncommonTo become mentally or psychologically fatigued or exhausted.