Cool MateGoing down the toilet vs Lost
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Going down the toilet
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Lost
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Most formal: LostMost common: Lost
| Going down the toilet | Lost | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈɡəʊɪŋ daʊn ðə ˈtɔɪlɪt//🇺🇸 //ˈɡoʊɪŋ daʊn ðə ˈtɔɪlɪt// | 🇬🇧 /["/lɒst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/lɔːst/"]/ |
| Meaning | Toilet waste or something worthless. | Not knowing where something is. |
| Example | The project is going down the toilet due to lack of funding. | I felt lost in the new city without a map. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | toilet humor, going down fast, gone down the toilet | be, get, completely, hopelessly, be, feel, look, completely, totally, very, be, feel, look, completely, totally, very |
| Antonyms | - | found, discovered |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'going to the bathroom', which is more polite., Using it as a literal phrase rather than figurative., Not recognizing its informal tone. | Confused with 'loosed' (to make loose), Using 'loss' incorrectly as a verb, Saying 'losted' instead of 'lost' |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversations to indicate something is in decline or wasted. Avoid in formal contexts. | Use 'lost' when someone can't find their way or something is missing. It's appropriate in both casual and formal situations. Avoid it in very specific technical contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Going down the toilet vs Lost
What's the difference between Going down the toilet and Lost?
Going down the toilet: Toilet waste or something worthless. Lost: Not knowing where something is.
Which is more formal: Going down the toilet and Lost?
Lost is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Going down the toilet and Lost?
Lost is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Going down the toilet: The project is going down the toilet due to lack of funding. Lost: I felt lost in the new city without a map.
Can I use Going down the toilet and Lost interchangeably?
Not always. Going down the toilet and Lost are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.