drain
drain — verb
1. to make a container, a piece of food, or an area empty of liquid by letting the
to make a container, a piece of food, or an area empty of liquid by letting the liquid flow away; or for liquid to flow away by itself so that a surface becomes dry.
After boiling the pasta, Felipe drained the water into the kitchen sink.
drain + object of liquid (water)
The garden soil drains quickly because it has a lot of sand mixed in.
intransitive: subject + drains + adverb
The mechanic drained all the old oil from the engine before refilling it.
Putri drained the canned tuna and stirred the fish into her salad.
Rainwater from the roof drains through pipes that carry it to the street.
文法句型
drain + object (liquid or container)
object + drains (adverb of manner)
用法筆記
Transitive use requires an object that holds liquid (a container, food, engine, ground). Intransitive use describes how a surface or area loses liquid naturally.
常見錯誤
2. to drink every drop of liquid from a glass, cup, or bottle, emptying it complete
to drink every drop of liquid from a glass, cup, or bottle, emptying it completely.
After his long run, Eitan drained his water bottle in one long gulp.
drain + container of drink after activity
Dahlia drained the last of her coffee and stood up to leave the cafe.
The children drained their juice glasses before racing outside to play.
At the party, Uncle Ray drained his wine glass with a satisfied smile.
- sip
to drink slowly in small amounts
文法句型
drain + glass / cup / bottle
用法筆記
This sense is only used for drinking. You cannot 'drain a bowl of soup' in the same way — that would be the REMOVE LIQUID sense if you pour the soup out, or a different verb (finish/eat) if you consume it with a spoon.
常見錯誤
3. to make a person feel extremely tired, with no physical or emotional energy left
to make a person feel extremely tired, with no physical or emotional energy left to continue.
Taking care of three young children all day drains even the most energetic parents.
drain + person (object)
The long flight and time zone change completely drained Élise for two days.
Working overtime every night is starting to drain the energy from the whole team.
Climbing six flights of stairs with heavy bags drained Yasmin completely.
文法句型
drain + person
drain + person's + energy / strength / spirit
用法筆記
Often used in continuous or progressive forms ('this job is draining me'). Subject is typically an activity or situation, not a person deliberately causing exhaustion.
常見錯誤
4. to gradually use up or reduce an amount of money, resources, or supplies until v
to gradually use up or reduce an amount of money, resources, or supplies until very little or nothing remains.
The expensive hospital treatment drained most of the family's savings.
drain + money / savings
Years of conflict drained the country's resources and weakened its economy.
Running the air conditioner all summer drains a huge amount of electricity.
Vikram watched his small savings drain away as the medical bills piled up.
The constant demand for new equipment drained the department's entire annual budget.
文法句型
drain + resources / money / funds
resources + drain away / out
用法筆記
Distinguish from EXHAUST sense: DEPLETE applies to resources (money, supplies, electricity), not directly to a person's energy. However, you can say 'drain someone's energy' — that crosses into the EXHAUST sense. If the object is a resource or supply, use this sense.
常見錯誤
5. to lose colour from your face, so that you look pale, usually because of shock,
to lose colour from your face, so that you look pale, usually because of shock, fear, illness, or a sudden strong emotion.
The colour drained from Layla's face when she heard the terrible news.
colour + drains from + face
Andrew's cheeks drained of blood as the nurse prepared the injection.
Emre's face slowly drained of colour as the reality of the situation sank in.
Tariro felt the warmth drain from his cheeks as he realised his mistake.
- flush
to become red in the face, the opposite of turning pale
文法句型
colour / blood + drains from + face
face + drains of + colour
用法筆記
Only used for faces and the appearance of pallor. Not used for objects losing colour (use 'fade' instead). The subject is typically 'colour', 'blood', or the person's face itself.
常見錯誤
drain — noun
1. a tube or channel in a building or beside a road that waste water and rain flow
a tube or channel in a building or beside a road that waste water and rain flow through to be carried away.
A blocked drain in the kitchen caused water to spread across the floor.
blocked + drain
The city workers inspected the drains under the main road for cracks.
Fallen leaves had blocked the drain behind the apartment building.
Heavy rain flooded the street drains and water pooled on the pavement.
The gardener cleared the drain that ran along the side of the house.
文法句型
a/the + drain
drains (plural)
用法筆記
A countable noun. 'The drains' (plural) often refers to the whole pipe network of a building. In British English, 'drain' is more specific than 'drainpipe' (which carries water from the roof).
常見錯誤
2. the entire network of pipes, channels, and openings designed to remove rain wate
the entire network of pipes, channels, and openings designed to remove rain water and waste water from a town, building, or area.
The city's drainage system was built over a hundred years ago.
possessive: city's + drain system
The village lacks a proper drainage system for household waste water.
After the storm, the town upgraded its drainage system to prevent future floods.
The building's drains connect to the main city system underground.
- drainage
uncountable noun for the system or process; 'the drainage here is poor'
- sewer system
specifically for human waste, not rain water
- plumbing
the system of pipes inside a building, including water supply
文法句型
the drains (plural)
a drain system
用法筆記
Distinguish from WASTE PIPE (a single pipe). This sense describes the whole infrastructure. 'The drains' (plural with definite article) often serves as shorthand for the system. May be used as 'drain system' or 'drainage system'.
3. the opening at the bottom of a sink, bath, or washbasin that lets water leave, a
the opening at the bottom of a sink, bath, or washbasin that lets water leave, and that you cover with a plug to keep the water inside.
The kitchen sink drain was clogged with food scraps and grease.
sink + drain (specific location)
Yuki pulled the plug from the bath drain and watched the water swirl away.
Hair often gets caught in the shower drain and blocks the water flow.
Put a small strainer over the sink drain to catch food particles.
文法句型
the + drain (in/on + sink / bath / shower)
用法筆記
Often modified by the fixture it belongs to ('bath drain', 'sink drain', 'shower drain'). The plug is a separate object inserted into the drain. 'Drain' alone can mean this hole in context.
常見錯誤
4. a person, activity, or situation that leaves you with no energy, draining your m
a person, activity, or situation that leaves you with no energy, draining your mental or physical strength.
Commuting for two hours every day is a real drain on my energy.
a + drain + on + energy
Looking after a sick parent can be a huge emotional drain on the family.
The construction noise was a constant drain on everyone's patience at work.
Working two jobs became too much of a drain on Sofie's physical health.
文法句型
a + drain + on + someone's + energy / patience
用法筆記
Followed by 'on' + the resource being drained (energy, patience, health). The subject is the tiring cause; the 'on' phrase names what is being used up.
常見錯誤
5. something that consumes more money, time, or other resources than you are willin
something that consumes more money, time, or other resources than you are willing to spend.
The old car was a constant drain on Dylan's wallet due to frequent repairs.
Heating the large house in winter was a serious drain on the family budget.
a + drain + on + budget
The legal fees were a huge financial drain on the small company.
Hosting the Olympics was a major financial drain on the host city's resources.
文法句型
a + drain + on + resources / budget / funds / time
用法筆記
Distinguish from ENERGY DRAIN: this sense involves concrete resources (money, time, supplies) rather than emotional or physical energy. Often modified by 'financial', 'economic', or 'budgetary'.
常見錯誤
6. the action or process of liquid flowing away from something, or of being removed
the action or process of liquid flowing away from something, or of being removed from it.
The drain of water from the swimming pool took nearly four hours.
the + drain + of + liquid (noun phrase)
Proper drain of the wound is important for preventing infection after surgery.
The slow drain of oil from the engine worried the mechanic.
Farmers planned the drain of the flooded fields to save their crops.
- filling
the act of adding liquid
文法句型
the + drain + of + liquid
drain (as process)
用法筆記
Typically used with 'of' to specify what is being drained. Uncountable when describing the general concept ('Drain of fluid is normal'), countable when referring to a specific instance ('a quick drain of the tank').