go from bad to worse
Spiral downward continuously
To go from bad to worse is for an already unfavorable situation to deteriorate further: The economy went from bad to worse after the bank failures.
The phrase emphasizes decline rather than mere continuation—things aren't just staying bad, they're actively getting worse.
- deteriorateGrow worse over time
- aggravateMake more severe
- declineDecrease or refuse
- go southWorsen or decline
- snowball effectAccelerating cumulative increase
intensify · exacerbate · add insult to injury · domino effect · slippery slope · degenerate · retrogress · downward spiral · circle the drain · descend · vicious cycle · degrade · death spiral · go downhill · go off the rails · decay · fall apart · disintegration
go from bad to worseimprove
Raise in quality
get better · recover · turn around · ameliorate · look up
go from bad to worsego from strength to strength
Progress with mounting success
take a turn for the better · turn one's life around · rise from the ashes · make a comeback · land on one's feet