go down the tubes
Fall apart badly
Go down the tubes means to fail, collapse, or be ruined.
The tubes suggest a drain—something disappearing irretrievably: The whole project went down the tubes when funding was cut.
Often describes businesses, relationships, or plans that deteriorate beyond saving.
Also appears as go down the tube or go down the drain.
- plummetRapid downward descent
- failBe unsuccessful
- crash and burnFail completely and visibly
- go belly upBecome insolvent or defunct
- collapseSudden structural failure
sink · hit rock bottom · decay · deteriorate · bite the dust · degrade · falter · decline · go to the dogs · squander · go south · disintegrate · fall to pieces · come apart at the seams · fiasco · debacle · blow up in your face · worsen
go down the tubesflourish
To grow vigorously
thrive · succeed · prosper · take off · come together
go down the tubessurvive
Continue to exist
pull through · bounce back · recover · turn around · turn the corner
go down the tubesfire on all cylinders
Perform at peak effectiveness
come together · fall into place · stay afloat · hold together · stay the course
goes, gone, down, downer, downs, downed, downing, tube, tubes