drain away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drain away" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express the idea of liquid or energy flowing or being removed from a certain place. For example: "The rain quickly drained away, leaving no trace behind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

How many more brains will drain away?

The Guardian

Only then does it drain away.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If Merrill fell, confidence would drain away.

The Guardian - Business

Respectability, already tarnished, would drain away.

The Guardian

She has watched their life savings drain away.

The New York Times

Nearly every year the Somerset Levels shimmer with shallow lakes that soon drain away.

The Economist

Soon I was middling the ball, and the tiredness began to drain away.

Independent

The characters weep and tremble and feel their vital fluids drain away.

The Economist

The flooding was made worse by water not being able to drain away across the city.

Independent

"I've seen how people allow their humanity to drain away," McCarthy's Miles Bennell says.

The New York Times

In lesser hands, this would drain away in a swirl of over-writing.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drain away" to describe the gradual loss of something, whether it's a physical substance like water or a less tangible entity like confidence. Ensure the context implies a diminishing or flowing out.

Common error

Avoid using "drain away" when a more direct verb like 'disappear' or 'decrease' would be clearer. "Drain away" implies a gradual process of something being removed, not just ceasing to exist.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drain away" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating the gradual removal or diminishing of something, typically a liquid or abstract resource. As Ludwig AI confirms, it expresses the idea of flowing or being removed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "drain away" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe the gradual removal or diminishing of something, whether tangible like water or abstract like energy or confidence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. Its usage is most frequent in news and media, wiki, and science contexts. When using "drain away", ensure that the context implies a gradual process rather than a sudden disappearance, and be mindful of the specific nuance you want to convey, considering alternatives like "flow away" or "ebb away" for subtle differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flow away

Focuses on the movement of liquid or other substances, similar to "drain away" but emphasizes motion.

seep away

Highlights the gradual and often unnoticed disappearance of something, like liquid or energy.

ebb away

Emphasizes a receding or diminishing quality, often used metaphorically for emotions or strength.

leach away

Implies a filtering or extraction process as something diminishes.

diminish gradually

A more formal and descriptive way of expressing a gradual reduction.

fade away

Focuses on the gradual disappearance of something, often in a visual or sensory context.

dissipate

Emphasizes the scattering or vanishing of something, like energy or concern.

vanish

Implies a sudden and complete disappearance.

recede

Highlights the backward movement or withdrawal of something, often used for water or hairlines.

dwindle

Implies a slow and steady decline in quantity or strength.

FAQs

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

You can use "drain away" to describe the gradual disappearance of something, such as "The floodwaters slowly "drain away" after the storm" or "His energy seemed to "drain away" as the day wore on".

What are some synonyms for "drain away"?

Alternatives to "drain away" include "flow away", "seep away", or "ebb away", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is "drain away" formal or informal?

"Drain away" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, but it's important to consider the specific context. In some situations, a more precise verb may be preferable for clarity.

What's the difference between "drain away" and "disappear"?

"Drain away" implies a gradual process of something diminishing and flowing out, whereas "disappear" suggests a more sudden and complete vanishing. For instance, "The water "drained away"" suggests a slow receding, while "The water disappeared" implies it vanished entirely.