goes down the tube
Collapses into nothing
Goes down the tube means fails, collapses, or is ruined—often after gradual decline.
The tube suggests a drain or chute where things disappear irretrievably: The whole project went down the tube when funding dried up.
Also appears as goes down the tubes.
The British variant is goes down the plughole.
- demiseCessation of existence
- failureLack of success
- sinkingFalling through water
- declineDecrease or refuse
- going southWorsening in condition
deteriorate · collapse · crash and burn · entropy · cratering · degradation · fall apart · malfunction · implosion · squandering · nosedive · breakdown · fiasco · tanking · ruin · debacle · hit rock bottom · worsen
goes down the tubesucceeds
Accomplishes a goal
takes off · flourishes · thrives · pays off · comes together
goes down the tubeimproves
Gets better gradually
recovers · bounces back · turns around · picks up · gets better
goes down the tubesurvives
Remains alive despite hardship
recovers · bounces back · pulls through · turns the corner · endures
goes, down, downer, downs, downed, downing, downward, downwards, tube