brain drain
The migration of educated or talented people from less economically advanced areas to more economically advanced areas, especially to large cities or more developed nations.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Many doctors leave, causing a serious brain drain in rural areas.”
“Our small town faces a brain drain as graduates move to bigger cities.”
“Low salaries often lead to a brain drain in the nursing profession.”
“The country's best engineers moved abroad for better pay, creating a brain drain that slowed local development.”
“Local tech startups are struggling to grow because the recent brain drain has pulled all the top software developers toward high-paying jobs in the capital city.”
“The university is worried about a brain drain if the most talented researchers decide to accept better offers from private laboratories across the border.”
“Despite government incentives to retain skilled workers, the relentless brain drain continued as young professionals fled to wealthier nations in search of opportunity and stability.”
Coined by spokesmen for the Royal Society of London in the early 1950s to describe the outflow of scientists and technologists to the United States and Canada.
- 01
beat one's brain
To struggle to think or remember something.
- 02
beat someone's brains out
To beat someone very severely (especially in the head).
- 03
bend the brain
To be difficult to comprehend.
- 04
bird of one's own brain
One's own idea or conception.
- 05
blow someone's brains out
To perform fellatio on another person, as to give them an orgasmic experience.
- 06
brain blast
The moment of a sudden unexpected discovery.
- 07
brain bucket
A protective helmet, as worn, for example, by a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or soldier in combat.
- 08
brain candy
A narrative, commentary, etc. which amuses and holds one's attention, but which lacks intellectual depth or importance.
Last updated August 10, 2026