go to waste

Idioms and Phrases

Fail to be used or taken advantage of. For example, I hate to see such talent go to waste , or We bought so much food that some will be going to waste . [c. 1500]

Example Sentences

“We try to raise awareness, but in the end it's either the settlers steal the olives or cut the trees, or they remain unpicked and go to waste.”

From BBC

“It would have been very easy for them to sign Shohei, get the gift of having the most unique player in baseball, and then just cruise. They have instead done a great job this year of building on it, not letting any of the momentum go to waste.”

From Los Angeles Times

"Wild foods are available only a certain amount of time, if you don’t use them, they’ll only die back and go to waste," he said.

From BBC

However, Young's try ensured the pressure did not go to waste and from there, Scotland looked the likely winners.

From BBC

It would have been a shame for it all to go to waste.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blow
• consume
• deplete
• dissipate
• divert
• drain
• exhaust
• lavish
• lose
• misuse
• squander
• undermine