brain drain
colloquial phrase

- the emigration of highly trained or qualified people from a particular country

- a situation in which large numbers of educated and skilled people leave their own country or area to live and work in another one where they can earn more

Oxford Languages / The Cambridge Dictionary

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PHRASE ORIGIN

The term "brain drain" is a relatively recent coinage, first appearing in the English language in the 1960s.

The word "brain" has been in use in English since the early Middle English period and is derived from the Old English word "bregn", which means "head" or "skull". The word "drain" has also been in use in English since the early Middle English period, deriving from the Old French word "dreiner", meaning "to draw off" or "to empty".

The "brain drain" metaphor compares the departure of educated and skilled people from a country to the draining of water from a reservoir. The idea is that when a country loses its most talented and productive citizens, it is like losing a vital resource. This can have a number of negative consequences for the country, such as a decline in economic productivity, a loss of scientific and technological expertise, and a weakening of the country's overall competitiveness.

The term can also be used to describe the situation in developed countries, where there is a shortage of skilled workers in certain industries — for instance, where young talent leaves an organization to set up or join a startup.

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REDUPLICATION

“Brain drain" is an example of what's called a "reduplication" in English, where the second part of the word or phrase duplicates or echoes the first.

Reduplication is a popular device in many languages. Here are 10 common examples in English:

1. airy-fairy = larifari, versponnen

2. gobbledygook = Kauderwelsch, Unverständliches

3. helter-skelter = hektisch, chaotisch

4. higgledy-piggledy = wirrwarrig, wirrsaltig

5. jibber-jabber = Geplapper, Geschwätz

6. mumbo jumbo = Hokuspokus, bedeutungsloses Gerede

7. nitty-gritty = Kernpunkt, entscheidendes Detail

8. pitter-patter = platschen, tapsen

9. razzle-dazzle = Glanz, Glamour

10. silly-billy = Dummkopf, Tollpatsch

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

"Living in Europe, I'm concerned that diminishing financial incentives are resulting in a BRAIN DRAIN of our young talent to the USA and other countries."

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