In The Tank

What is ‘In The Tank’

A slang term referring to very poor performance, as in that of a security, sector or market. A security, sector or market can be considered “in the tank” once it has performed very poorly or well below expectations. A security, sector or market is said to “be tanking” while it is on its way down. An investor might say his investments are in the tank, meaning they are not doing well. Likewise, an investor could refer to her investments as tanking when the positions are deteriorating.

Explaining ‘In The Tank’

In the tank refers to investments or markets that have had a significant and often sudden decline or failure, as in “My stock portfolio is in the tank.” Tanking refers to something that is currently doing poorly, as in “My 401(k) is tanking.”

Further Reading

  • The Bank of International Settlements as a think tank for financial policy-making – www.tandfonline.com [PDF]
  • American think tank networks and expert debates around the Global Financial Crisis: Keynesian insurgents against austerity defenders – www.tandfonline.com [PDF]
  • Feasibility of struvite recovery process for fertilizer industry: A study of financial and economic analysis – www.sciencedirect.com [PDF]
  • From social control to financial economics: the linked ecologies of economics and business in twentieth century America – link.springer.com [PDF]
  • Economic and financial analysis on rainwater harvesting for agricultural irrigation in the rural areas of Beijing – www.sciencedirect.com [PDF]
  • The economics of structured finance – www.aeaweb.org [PDF]