Idiom
up the spout
Meanings
Ruined, wasted, or failed so that it cannot be recovered easily.
Definition
If something is up the spout, it is ruined, lost, or has failed and cannot be fixed easily.
Up the spout is an informal idiom meaning something has gone wrong so badly that it is effectively ruined or wasted. It is often used for plans, money, or efforts that fail. Speakers use it to emphasize that the result is disappointing and hard to recover from.
Examples
- If we miss this deadline, the whole project is up the spout.
- My laptop crashed and all my notes are up the spout.
- Without insurance, that money is up the spout.
- Their travel plans went up the spout after the storm.
- One mistake and the deal could be up the spout.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share a quick update or confirm plans.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to tease someone or make fun of them in a not-too-serious way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idiom (adjective phrase)s
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
- over the moon Extremely happy or delighted about something.
- easy as pie Something that is easy as pie is very easy to do or understand.
- off one's trolley To be crazy or acting in a very irrational way.
- right as rain Used to say someone or something feels completely well or is back to normal.