Dictionary

have the drains up en · VERB

To investigate the internals of a situation.
- I want you to have the drains up. Find out why there have been all these cock-ups. I want two reports. One the official confidential one to be sent up the line and kept on file, but between you and me I want to know more than that. 2013, Ken Bridgewater, Open Verdict, page 52:
- So let's now have the drains up and have a good old look at some dodgy working practices that should have gone out with the ark. 2008, Kevin Duncan, So What?, page 65:

Spelling	Features	Source
having the drains up	Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic
had the drains up	Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic
had the drains up	Tense=Past	lexicographic
has the drains up	Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres	lexicographic