draining board
B1Everyday, informal, household.
Definition
Meaning
A slightly sloped surface, usually next to a sink, on which washed dishes are placed to dry by letting water drain off them.
Any grooved or sloped surface designed to channel liquid away from a work area, sometimes used metaphorically for a situation or task that exhausts resources or energy.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
It is a fixed compound noun (also written as 'draining-board'). It refers to the fixture itself, not the act of draining. Often used in the context of kitchen chores.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'draining board' is the standard term. In American English, the common equivalent is 'drainboard' or often just 'the counter next to the sink'.
Connotations
The term has strong domestic, practical connotations. In British English, it is a very familiar household item term.
Frequency
High frequency in UK domestic contexts. Lower frequency in US English, where the concept may be described rather than named with a single specific word.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
on the draining boardnext to the draining boardwipe the draining boarda draining board made of...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Rarely used idiomatically]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Primary context: domestic chores and kitchen descriptions. 'Just leave the plates on the draining board.'
Technical
Might appear in plumbing, kitchen fitting, or interior design specifications.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The draining-board surface needs a clean.
- It's a draining-board mat.
American English
- The drainboard area is cluttered.
- It's a drainboard rack.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please put the cup on the draining board.
- The water goes into the sink from the draining board.
- After washing up, she left the pots to dry on the plastic draining board.
- He wiped the draining board clean with a cloth.
- The new kitchen has an integrated granite draining board that blends seamlessly with the sink.
- A well-designed draining board should have a slight gradient to direct water efficiently.
- Metaphorically, the project became a financial draining board, with resources constantly seeping away with little to show for it.
- The architect specified a stainless steel draining board with discreet runoff channels to prevent pooling.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: a BOARD (surface) for DRAINING water from dishes. It drains on the board.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SLOPE FOR EFFORT: Metaphorically, a 'draining' task can be like water running off a board—it removes energy/resources.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'доска для сушки' (too literal). The standard Russian term is 'сушилка для посуды' or specifically 'столешница для сушки'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'drainboard' (acceptable in US) or 'drainning board'. Using 'draining' as a verb in this context incorrectly: 'I am draining board the cups.'
Practice
Quiz
Which term is most commonly used in American English for 'draining board'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is most commonly written as two words ('draining board'), but hyphenated ('draining-board') is also acceptable. In American English, 'drainboard' is often one word.
A draining board is the fixed, sloped surface. A dish rack is a movable rack or stand that you place on the draining board or counter to hold dishes upright.
Typically no. It is almost exclusively a kitchen term. A similar surface in a bathroom would just be called 'the counter' or 'vanity top'.
Not in British English. In modern kitchens with integrated sink/counter units, the specific 'draining board' area might be less distinct, but the term remains in active use.