a drain on

USAGE SUMMARY

"a drain on" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe something or someone that is causing a significant loss of resources, such as time, money, or energy. Example: "John's gambling addiction was becoming a drain on his family's finances." In this sentence, the phrase "a drain on" is used to show that John's gambling habit was causing a significant decrease in his family's financial resources.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Are meetings a drain on office productivity?

The Guardian

"An empty building is really a drain on a street.

The New York Times - Arts

Their deaths are a drain on the organisation's resources.

The Economist

That can be a drain on a tight household budget.

The Economist

Such arrests are a drain on the human economy.

The New York Times

"It is a drain on law enforcement," Mr. Lieu said.

The New York Times

Underused factories are a drain on carmakers' profitability.

The New York Times

Talk about a drain on the Social Security system.

The Washington Post

Civil unrest anywhere is a drain on the global economy.

The New York Times

But the cold is just a drain on our energies".

The New York Times

"The stores would have been a drain on Campeau.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a drain on", ensure the context clearly identifies what resource is being depleted (e.g., finances, energy, time).

Common error

Avoid using "a drain on" for minor inconveniences. Reserve it for situations where the depletion is significant and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a drain on" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It describes something that diminishes or depletes resources, as shown by Ludwig's numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a drain on" is a versatile phrase used to express that something is depleting resources. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used. Its meaning is that something negatively impacts resources of something else. It appears frequently in News & Media and Academic writing, maintaining a neutral tone. When using "a drain on", ensure the context specifies which resources are being depleted and avoid its use for insignificant issues. Related alternatives include "a burden on" and "a strain on". Be mindful that you use the preposition "on" instead of other prepositions like to.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a burden on

Replaces "drain" with "burden", emphasizing the weight or difficulty caused.

a strain on

Substitutes "drain" with "strain", highlighting the pressure or tension created.

a tax on

Replaces "drain" with "tax", stressing the cost or demand placed on something.

a depletion of

Focuses on the action of depleting resources rather than the source itself.

a liability for

Shifts the focus to the legal or financial responsibility incurred.

an encumbrance to

Highlights the hindrance or obstacle created by something.

a drag on

Uses a more informal term, "drag", to convey a slowing or hindering effect.

a liability on

Indicates a significant debt or recurring payment.

a cost to

Emphasizes the expense or sacrifice required.

a debit to

Frames it as a financial withdrawal or deduction.

FAQs

How can I use "a drain on" in a sentence?

You can use "a drain on" to describe something that depletes resources, such as "The constant repairs were "a drain on" their savings" or "The project's delays became "a drain on" company morale".

What is a more formal alternative to "a drain on"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "a burden on" or "a strain on". These alternatives convey a similar meaning of depletion but with increased formality.

Is it correct to say "a drain on" something or "a drain to" something?

The correct usage is "a drain on" something. The preposition "on" indicates that something is imposing a burden or depletion on the specified resource or entity.

How does ""a drain on"" differ from "an asset to"?

"A drain on" implies a negative impact, depleting resources. In contrast, "an asset to" indicates a positive contribution, adding value or resources. They are antonyms in this context.