Shouldn't it be ..., there was nothing ...?

[English_holic]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #320 "English Slang Idioms (41)", question 6

Business was looking up. With their top competitor ......... the drain, there nothing to hold them back from making some serious money.

(a) circling
(b) mistaking
(c) building
(d) draining

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #320 "English Slang Idioms (41)", answer 6

Business was looking up. With their top competitor circling the drain, there nothing to hold them back from making some serious money.

Correct answer: (a) circling

Your answer was: correct
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Shouldn't it be ..., there was nothing ...?

Thanks,

Englishholic

[Benjamin]

Yup, that is correct. well spotted

[Torsten]

Many thanks for pointing this out, it'll get changed soon.

TOEIC listening, photographs: Reviewing blueprints

[Nenad11]

Does to circle the drain mean to get the bulk of profit ( for oneself)?

[Kati Svaby]

Hi,

Three very clear explications for your question.

1.USA) If you circle the wagons, you stop communicating with people who don't think the same way as you to avoid their ideas. It can also mean to bring everyone together to defend a group against an attack./UsingEnglish/

2.Circle the drain
If someone is circling the drain, they are spiraling downward to a usually inevitable death./UsingEnglih//

3.Circling the drain
If someone is circling the drain, they are very near death and have little time to live. The phrase can also describe a project or plan or campaign that that is on the brink of failure./UsingEnglish

Kati Svaby/
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Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.