The correct spelling of the phrase "drain away" is [dreɪn əˈweɪ]. The first syllable is spelled with the letters "dr", which make the sound [dreɪ]. The second syllable is spelled with the letters "ai", which make the sound [ə]. The final syllable is spelled "away", which makes the sound [weɪ]. This phrase means for something to gradually or completely disappear or vanish, especially as a result of flowing liquid or draining water.
The phrasal verb "drain away" refers to the act of losing or losing the entirety of a particular substance or resource gradually and continuously, often in a manner that is not easily retrievable or replaceable. It implies a gradual and steady reduction or depletion of whatever is being referred to.
In a literal sense, "drain away" is used to describe the process of liquid slowly disappearing or emptying from a confined area, such as water draining away from a sink or a bathtub. It suggests a continuous flow or movement of liquid outwards until nothing remains.
However, the phrase is also commonly used figuratively to describe the gradual loss or diminishment of non-physical elements or qualities. For example, it can be used to describe the fading of hope, confidence, energy, or motivation over time. In this figurative sense, "drain away" conveys a sense of something gradually diminishing or being sapped, often without any immediate or obvious control or remedy.
Overall, "drain away" refers to the steady and continuous loss or disappearance of a substance, resource, or quality, whether literal or figurative, implying a decrease or depletion that is difficult to reverse or replenish.
The word "drain" can be traced back to the Old English word "drēahnian", which means "to draw off liquid, to drench". This Old English word has Germanic roots and is related to the Dutch word "drennen" and the German word "trennen", both of which mean "to separate". The term "away" in the phrase "drain away" is an adverbial particle that intensifies the meaning of "drain", emphasizing the act of liquid flowing or being drawn off from a particular place or object. Hence, "drain away" implies the continuous, gradual removal or escape of liquid.