circle the drain

present singular third person circles the drain · participle present circling the drain · participle past circled the drain · past circled the drain

1. idiomaticinformalTo 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

   2 more examples

   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

   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