go down the pan

go down the pan

To fail or be completely and irreversibly squandered, lost, or destroyed. Primarily heard in UK. In an instant, we saw all our hopes for our business go down the pan. All those years of research went down the pan when they pulled our funding.
See also: down, go, pan
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

go down the pan

reach a stage of abject failure or uselessness.
1997 Ian Rankin Black & Blue My company's just about given up trying to sell to the oil industry. They'd rather buy Yank or Scandinavian…no wonder Scotland's down the pan.
See also: down, go, pan
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

go down the ˈpan

(British English, slang) be wasted or spoiled: That’s another brilliant idea down the pan.
Pan is an informal word for the bowl of a toilet.
See also: down, go, pan
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • down the pan
  • go down the plughole
  • go down the toilet
  • go down the drain
  • go down the chute
  • fall flat
  • tick
  • stop at
  • stop at (something)
  • dafuq
References in periodicals archive
We have seen this country go down the pan which is exactly why we voted for Brexit.
[euro]is country will literally go down the pan for the working class.
A PLAY could go down the pan before it's even shown if a theatre company can't get hold of vital props.
But we would respectfully suggest that by decreeing that their workers should only go to the loo at specific times, bosses at United Biscuits, in Aintree, are in danger of seeing morale go down the pan.
Dating In The Dark Tuesday, 9pm, Living AS Cheryl Cole watches her US career go down the pan, bandmate Sarah Harding can't be too far behind.
Under whose watch did this country go down the pan? Blair, Brown and co, that's whose.
Because if they go down the pan the UK economy ends up in the sewer with them.
"I worked damned hard to get the money, I just don't want to see it go down the pan."
We don't want it to go down the pan like Wimbledon.
The race for the July prize is wide open, though the chances of previous leader Fred Bog will go down the pan unless Falbrav wins the King George.
WE'RE all hoping that, after spending so much money in the close season, Manchester United will go down the pan at last.
An internal audit showed two ventures risked losses of more than pounds 1m, while a further 40% could go down the pan to the tune of pounds 100,000.
Chris plays Charlie Babbit, an egotistical yuppie whose business is about to go down the pan when he hears his estranged father has died and left his fortune to Raymond, the long-institutionalised elder brother Charlie never knew (or, more subtly, has forgotten).
"We all care about the club and don't want to see it go back to part-time football and go down the pan.
He said that if we don't settle for a two per cent rise, the country will go down the pan.