Definition

Noun: 1. A hole into which a plug fits: Specifically, the opening in a sink, bathtub, or basin where water drains away, and which can be closed with a stopper.

Usage

The word "plughole" is used to refer to the drain opening in plumbing fixtures. It is most commonly used in British English; in American English, the term "drain" is more typical. - It is the point where water exits a basin. - It is often paired with a plug or stopper to contain water.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "To go down the plughole": An informal idiom meaning to be wasted, lost, or to fail completely.
  • All our savings went down the plughole when the business failed.
  • My plans for the weekend have gone down the plughole now that I have to work.

Variants and Related Words

• Drain (noun): The more general American English equivalent for the hole or pipe where water flows away.
• Plug (noun): The stopper that fits into the plughole.
• Stopper (noun): Another word for a plug.
• Overflow (noun): A separate hole in a sink or tub to prevent flooding if the plughole is blocked.

Synonyms

• Drain
• Drainhole

Related Idioms

• Down the plughole: (Also "down the drain"). Used to describe something that is lost, wasted, or has failed.
  • Years of hard work went down the plughole in an instant.

Noun

1. a hole into which a plug fits (especially a hole where water drains away)