Т-207

ВЫЛЕТАТЬ/ВЫЛЕТЕТЬ В ТРУБУ coll VP usu. pfv )

1. (subj: human or a noun denoting an enterprise) to become insolvent, financially ruined

X вылетел в трубу — X went bankrupt (broke, bust, belly up)

(of a person only) X got wiped out.

2. ( subj: a noun denoting a sum of money, a fortune etc) to be wasted, spent in vain

X вылетел в трубу = X was squandered (burned, blown)

X went (was poured) down the drain X was frittered (thrown) away.

3. ( subj: abstr) to be lost in vain, to no purpose

X вылетел в трубу - X went down the tubes (the drain)

X went to the dogs X went (flew) out the window ( usu. of time) X was wasted (frittered away, squandered).

А если меня никто не поддержит? Тогда меня прихлопнут, как муху. Всё моё геройство вылетит в трубу, и никакого толку... (Аксёнов 6). But suppose no one backed me up? In that case, I would be swatted like a fly. All my heroism would go down the tubes, and to no purpose... (6a).