drained the swamp
Removed entrenched corruption
Drained the swamp is the past tense of "drain the swamp," a political metaphor for eliminating corruption or entrenched interests from government.
The image evokes clearing a fetid wetland of pests.
The phrase gained prominence as a campaign slogan promising to remove career politicians and lobbyists from Washington: He said he'd drain the swamp, but hired the same old insiders.
Critics note the phrase is often invoked without follow-through.
- mudWet soil mixture
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- deep stateCovert governmental power structure
- revolving doorCircular spinning entrance
- wetlandsWater-saturated terrain
water · reclamation · restructuring · whistleblowing · soggy · bureaucracy · clean house · accountability · ooze · hydrology · reform · lobbying · special interests · fat cats · transparency · purging · patronage · good ol' boys
drained the swampbusiness as usual
Continuation of normal routine
cronyism · pay-to-play · insider dealing · sold out · machine politics
drain, drained, draining, drains, drainage, drainer, swamp, swamps, swamped