in the toilet: Idiom Meaning and Origin

An idiom related to "in the toilet" is "down the toilet." This idiom is often used to describe a situation or effort that has failed or gone to waste. Just like when something is flushed down the toilet and cannot be retrieved, when something goes "down the toilet," it means it is lost or ruined beyond repair.

For example, if someone spends hours working on a project only to have it rejected by their boss, they might say, "All my hard work went down the toilet." This expresses their disappointment and frustration at the wasted effort and unsuccessful outcome.

Another related idiom is "go down the toilet." This idiom has a similar meaning to "down the toilet" but emphasizes the action of something deteriorating or failing. It is often used to describe a situation or plan that was once promising but has now taken a turn for the worse.

For instance, if a business had a successful year but then starts to experience financial difficulties, someone might say, "Our profits are going down the toilet." This highlights the decline and negative trend in the company's financial situation.

Yet another related idiom is "down the cludgie." This idiom is a colloquial British slang term that is used to mean the same as "down the toilet" or "go down the toilet." The term "cludgie" is a Scottish term for a toilet or bathroom.

So, if someone in the UK were talking about their failed investments, they might say, "All my money's gone down the cludgie." This uses the British slang term to add a local flavor to the idiom and emphasize the negative outcome.

"down the drain" is another idiom related to "in the toilet." This idiom is used to describe a situation or effort that has been wasted or lost. Just like when something is poured down the drain and cannot be retrieved, when something goes "down the drain," it means it is gone forever.

For example, if someone spends months planning a vacation but at the last minute has to cancel it, they might say, "All our travel plans went down the drain." This expresses their disappointment and frustration at the lost opportunity for a vacation.

"down the tubes" is yet another idiom related to "in the toilet." This idiom is used to describe a situation or effort that has failed or been ruined. It conveys a sense of something going completely wrong or being destroyed.

For instance, if a person has spent years building up their reputation only to have it tarnished by a scandal, they might say, "All my hard work and credibility have gone down the tubes." This highlights the sudden and dramatic downfall of their reputation.

These related idioms all convey a similar meaning to "in the toilet" by emphasizing negative or undesirable outcomes. They provide colorful and expressive ways to talk about failures, losses, or ruined situations.

The idiom "in the toilet" has a figurative meaning that refers to a negative or undesirable situation. Its origin may be associated with the uncleanliness and unpleasantness commonly associated with toilets. This idiom is primarily used in informal or colloquial settings, particularly in American English, to describe setbacks or failures. It is often used alongside other related idioms such as "down the toilet," "go down the toilet," "down the cludgie," "down the drain," and "down the tubes." These idioms add variety and nuance to conversations about negative outcomes and provide expressive ways to discuss failures or losses. However, it is important to note that while these idioms are commonly used, they may vary in popularity and usage among different regions and cultural contexts.