drain funds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drain funds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where money is being depleted or removed from an account or budget. Example: "The unexpected expenses have caused us to drain funds from our emergency reserve."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Others worry that these schools may drain funds from existing colleges.

The Guardian

It turns out that when Americans know that market-based reforms drain funds from public schools, most oppose the policies.

The Washington Post

Subsidizing the construction of more dams with 'green' money could drain funds from alternatives with real climate benefits, such as expanding wind and solar power.

Nature

"Today's repo business is a signal that the central bank is acting to drain funds from the money market because it thinks liquidity is excessive," said Lin Chaohui, analyst at Guotai Junan Securities in Shanghai.

The New York Times

Page A11 AGING REACTORS DRAIN FUNDS Licenses for some aging nuclear reactors are set to expire, and many operators do not have enough money for the expensive decommissioning process.

The New York Times

A £1.5bn pledge by Gordon Brown to help poor countries cope with the ravages of climate change will drain funds from existing overseas aid programmes to improve health, education and water supplies, the government admitted today.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Five more years of austerity will drain funding from services Britons cherish, like schools and the NHS.

The Economist

Already, the crisis has reinforced pressure on politicians to pull back on Europe's hallowed social safety nets, which have become cumbersome and even more financially unsustainable as the economic downturn and deteriorating demographics drain funding.

The New York Times

Forcing it to tackle the ghost roads first "would drain funding from fixing roads that are causing the most environmental degradation," said Robert Joslin, deputy chief of the national forest system.

The New York Times

It says the main concern is "one of principle" adding, "the high fees charged by agencies and umbrella companies drain funding for education away from schools – but they still pay supply teachers much less than those directly employed by local authorities and schools.

The Guardian - Money

I see district after district where charters drain funding and top students away from the public schools.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing budgets or financial planning, use "drain funds" to clearly indicate that resources are being depleted, especially when describing the negative impacts of certain actions or events. Ensure you quantify the amount being drained for greater impact.

Common error

Avoid using "drain funds" interchangeably with "divert funds". "Drain funds" implies depletion, while "divert funds" suggests redirection. Using the wrong term can misrepresent the financial situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drain funds" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It describes the action of depleting or removing financial resources from a particular source. Ludwig provides several examples demonstrating this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "drain funds" effectively conveys the depletion of financial resources, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. While not overly common, its meaning is clear and consistently used. Be mindful of potential confusion with similar terms like "divert funds". To enhance your writing, quantify the amount "drained" and use it to emphasize the negative impact. When the meaning is interchangeable, related phrases as "exhaust funds" or "deplete resources" can be used as alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exhaust funds

Emphasizes the complete consumption of available financial resources.

deplete resources

Focuses on the broader concept of resource depletion, not specifically financial.

draw down funds

Refers to the planned and controlled withdrawal of funds.

bleed resources

Implies a gradual and damaging loss of resources.

divert funds

Highlights the redirection of funds from one purpose to another.

consume resources

Highlights the act of using up resources, particularly money.

siphon off funds

Suggests a clandestine or illicit transfer of funds.

impair resources

Focuses on the negative impact of draining on available resources.

liquidate assets

Specifically refers to converting assets into cash, often due to financial strain.

exhaust assets

Emphasizes the complete use of available monetary resources.

FAQs

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

Use "drain funds" to describe situations where resources are being used up or depleted. For example: "The unexpected repairs began to "drain funds" from the project budget".

What are some alternatives to "drain funds"?

Alternatives include "exhaust funds", "deplete resources", or "consume resources", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "drain funds" or "divert funds"?

The choice depends on the context. "Drain funds" means to deplete or use up resources. "Divert funds" means to redirect funds from one purpose to another. They are not interchangeable.

Can "drain funds" have a positive connotation?

No, "drain funds" typically has a negative connotation, implying that resources are being depleted in a way that is undesirable or unsustainable. Consider using phrases like "allocate funds" or "invest funds" if you want to describe the usage of funds in a more positive or neutral manner.