German

Verb

in den Sand setzen

1. (idiomatic, transitive) (of a project) to botch; (of money) to waste, to burn
   • 2009, Der Spiegel, issue 9/2009, page 29:

     Der damalige Bundeskanzler hatte dem Unternehmen Bürgschaften und Darlehen in Höhe von 128 Millionen Euro zugesagt, nachdem es Milliarden in den Sand gesetzt hatte

     The former chancellor had promised guarantees and loans amounting to 128 million euros to the company, after they had burned billions