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Unclog the Drain: Meaning, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：clear a blocked pipe (Unclog the Drain)
Unclog the Drain
/ʌnˈklɒɡ ðə dreɪn/
v. phr.
To remove something that is blocking a pipe, sink, or drain so that water can flow through it again.
clear a blocked pipe
➕
/klɪər ə blɒkt paɪp/
v. phr.
To physically remove debris or obstruction from a drainage system such as a sink or shower so that water can flow freely.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
Prefix 'un-' (reverse) + 'clog' (block) + 'drain' (pipe). Literally: to remove a blockage from a pipe.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of a plumber using a snake to unclog the drain - removing the blockage restores flow.
📖 Example
The kitchen sink was full of dirty water, so I had to unclog the drain with a plunger.
Because the sink was clogged with dirty water, I used a plunger to clear the drain.
🔗 Collocations
unclog a sink – to remove a blockage from a sink
unclog a toilet – to clear a toilet blockage
use a plunger to unclog – to employ a plunger for drain clearing
🔄 Synonyms
clear a drain (v. phr.) – to remove an obstruction from a drain
open a clogged pipe (v. phr.) – to make a blocked pipe functional again
flush out a blockage (v. phr.) – to wash away an obstruction in a pipe
🚫 Antonyms
block a drain (v. phr.) – to cause a drain to become obstructed
clog a pipe (v. phr.) – to fill a pipe with debris so water cannot pass
stop up a sink (v. phr.) – to make a sink unable to drain
🌱 Derivatives
unclogged (adj.) – no longer blocked; cleared
unclogging (n.) – the action of removing a blockage
📖 Cultural Story
This phrase is common in household maintenance and also used metaphorically in business to describe clearing obstacles that hinder workflow, becoming a standard idiom in project management.
Meaning 2：remove an obstacle (Unclog the Drain)
Unclog the Drain
/ʌnˈklɒɡ ðə dreɪn/
v. phr.
To solve a problem that is stopping progress or the flow of something, like information or work.
remove an obstacle
➕
/rɪˈmuːv ən ˈɒbstəkəl/
v. phr.
To identify and resolve a problem that prevents progress or the smooth flow of information, work, or processes.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The new software update caused a major error, and our IT expert worked all night to unclog the drain and get the system running again.
A critical software bug halted operations, so the IT team spent the night debugging to restore the system.
🔗 Collocations
unclog a bottleneck – to resolve a point of congestion in a process
unclog a workflow – to remove obstacles that slow down work
unclog communication – to fix barriers that impede information exchange
🔄 Synonyms
remove a barrier (v. phr.) – to eliminate an obstacle preventing progress
clear the path (v. phr.) – to make way for smooth advancement
solve a blockage (v. phr.) – to address a hindrance in a system
🚫 Antonyms
create a bottleneck (v. phr.) – to introduce a point of congestion
cause a delay (v. phr.) – to slow down progress intentionally or unintentionally
stop progress (v. phr.) – to bring forward movement to a halt
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