down a rathole
泡汤
(pàotānɡ)
A: My project has been rejected.
我的提案被否决了。
(wǒ de tí'àn bèi fǒujué le.)
B: But you've worked on it for ages!
可你已经在这上面花了好长时间了!
(kě nǐ yǐjīnɡ zài zhè shànɡmiàn huā le hǎo chánɡ shíjiān le.)
A: That's weeks of efforts down a rathole.
几周的努力就这样泡汤了。
(jǐzhōu de nǔlì jiù zhèyànɡ pàotānɡ le.)
B: Cheer up! There's always a second chance.
振作点!机会还会有的。
(zhènzuòdiǎn!jīhuì háihuì yǒu de.)