go/run to waste
go to waste
To be unused or squandered. Take some of this food home with you so that it doesn't go to waste. All of our hard work will go to waste if the board rejects our proposal.
See also: waste
go to waste
[for something] to be wasted; to be unused (and therefore thrown away). Eat your potatoes! Don't let them go to waste. We shouldn't let all those nice herbs go to waste. Let's pick some before the first hard frost.
See also: waste
go to waste
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]
See also: waste