squander

Related to squander: squanderer

squander (something) on (someone or something)

To waste some resource by using it for the benefit of someone or something. I can't believe I squandered the best years of my life on you! So you're telling me that we squandered half a million dollars on a new infrastructure that is already outdated?
See also: on, squander

squander away

To use up or fail to take advantage of some resource in a wasteful, frivolous, or negligent manner. A noun or pronoun can be used between "squander" and "away." I'm not about to lend you any more cash—you already squandered the $100 away that I gave you! In my old age, I look back on my life and bemoan squandering away my youth. It makes me sad to think of her squandering her potential away in some dead-end office job.
See also: away, squander
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

squander something away

to waste something; to use up something valuable wastefully. Where is all the money I gave you last month? Did you squander it all away? Frank squandered away all his assets.
See also: away, squander

squander something on someone or something

to waste all of something on someone or something. I am tired of squandering money on this rickety old house. I squandered a fortune on Roger and what did it get me?
See also: on, squander
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • squander (something) on (someone or something)
  • squander on
  • go to waste
  • go/run to waste
  • expend (something) on (someone or something)
  • expend on
  • draw upon (someone or something)
  • starve (someone or something) of (something)
  • starve of
  • lay (something) waste
References in periodicals archive
But that doesn't stop some people dredging up the few, very few, cases of those who have come to grief or allegedly squandered their fortune.
Lotto snobs are wrong to grudge ordinary Joes
While all the characters who sang live were very good, praise must go to the impressive vocals of Nikki Mae, who played Jill Squander.
This goose has laid a golden egg; REVIEW Bryan Longworth
Power currently being abused and squandered by those who should protect us.
Sunday Mercury SAYS: Abuse of power
Hickey, the archbishop of Washington, may be the only man who could have a Supreme Court majority on its knees before him, and this is not an opportunity to be squandered....
The bishops lobby
KUWAIT, March 23 (KUNA) -- National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim announced Monday that he has received a grilling motion from MP Rawdan Al Rawdan against Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdulmohsen Al-Madaj over "wasting small shareholders' rights and facilitating squander of public funds".
Al-Ghanim receives grilling motion against Commerce Min
And so we squander our Godgiven gifts by tinkering with gadgets; we squander our money on gambling and drink; we turn in on ourselves," Pope Francis said in his Homily.
Pope Francis: Be wary of the devil who hides behind pleasures, pastimes
IT'S insanity for parents to squander pounds 31million a year kitting out their children for proms.
Spoilt kids the true cost of school proms; "You say"
Kuznetsova's defeat to the 30th seed came close to being overshadowed by an extraordinary match on Philippe Chatrier Court, which saw French golden girl Aravane Rezai squander and save three match points against Nadia Petrova before tournament officials finally suspended play for the evening with the pair locked at 7-7 in the decider.
Kuznetsova's title defence is ended
Their first-half performance encapsulated that form perfectly as, after allowing their visitors a couple of openings, they proceeded to squander several chances as they failed to find the target again.
Goal-shy Latics miss big chance
Well it won't affect bankers, politicians and public servants with their gold-plated pensions, but it will affect every low paid worker, in many jobs that take a heavy toll on their health, who will provide the taxes for politicians to squander as they do.
Change will hurt the poor; VIEWPOINTS
THE former Bishop of Wakefield has called on voters not to squander their votes on the BNP in the European Parliamentary elections.
Don't waste vote on BNP - bishop
However, union representatives of thousands of EPA employees maintain that the change will squander the agency's money in the long run.
Close your books: cuts, shutdowns loom for EPA libraries
They squander their chances by failing to take full advantage of exemptions, reliefs, credits and overpayment rebates, by incurring fines through missing self-assessment deadlines and by not making inheritance plans.
Money for numpties: Take care and save pounds 5.7bn in income tax
What we must not do now is to squander the peace for lack of political direction,' said Mr Ancram.
Don't risk Iraq peace, warn Tories