Drain the swamp

Meaning

"Drain the swamp" is an idiomatic expression used to describe the process of removing all unnecessary or unwanted elements from a situation or organization, typically with the aim of improving its efficiency or effectiveness. The phrase can be interpreted as a call to action for someone to take responsibility for identifying and eliminating problems that may be hindering progress.

Usage

• After the company's financial difficulties were exposed, the board of directors decided to "drain the swamp" by cutting costs and streamlining operations.
• The new CEO promised to "drain the swamp" in her first year on the job by addressing the company's culture of complacency and lack of innovation.
• When the community faced a surge in crime, the local authorities launched a campaign to "drain the swamp" by cracking down on gang activity and increasing police presence.
• The government's efforts to "drain the swamp" by eliminating corruption and improving transparency have been met with mixed results since taking office.
• As part of his plan to "drain the swamp," the mayor vowed to reduce the city's budget deficit by cutting back on services and increasing taxes.

Roots and History

The phrase "drain the swamp" dates back to ancient Rome, where swamps were seen as a source of disease and decay. The idea was that removing all waste and debris from the area would help to restore its natural beauty and vitality. Over time, the idiom evolved to refer to the removal of unnecessary elements from any situation or organization, with the aim of improving efficiency or effectiveness.

Synonyms in English

• Clean up
• Streamline operations
• Eliminate waste
• Improve performance
• Optimize processes

Synonyms in other languages

• 清理 (Chinese)
• 투명화 (Japanese)
• 솔바시스트 (Arabic)
• بلغيست (Persian)
• دوره كنىزه (Turkish)

Similar Idioms

• down the drain

• dab hand

• break the ice