circling the drain

A form of circle the drain — To be in a rapid decline or in a state of downfall, especially as leading to an inevitable utter failure or destruction.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of circle the drain
Cite this entry
APA

circling the drain. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circling%20the%20drain

MLA

“circling the drain.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circling%20the%20drain. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “circling the drain,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circling%20the%20drain.

Source: circling the drain on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.