in the tank
Completely sold out
In the tank describes someone who is secretly supporting or biased toward a particular person, organization, or cause, often while pretending to be neutral.
The phrase suggests corruption or collusion, as if the person has been bought off or is conspiring behind the scenes.
It appears most often in political contexts: The media is totally in the tank for the incumbent.
The expression may derive from boxing slang, where a fighter who deliberately loses is said to take a dive "into the tank."
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
- declineDecrease or refuse
- slantOblique angle or bias
- slumpExtended period of decline
- tailspinSteep spiral descent
downturn · economic downturn · prejudice · nosedive · recession · market crash · vat · failure · rigged · compromised · deep state · container · allegiance · favoritism · rooting for · drunk · advocacy · underperformance
in the tankimpartial
Showing no preference
unbiased · neutral · objective · fair-minded · even-handed
in the tankabove board
Honest and unconcealed
transparent · independent · cards on the table · upfront · forthright
in the tankindependent
Free from external control
uncorrupted · unbought · incorruptible · uncaptured · trustworthy