goes south
Takes a downturn
Goes south means to deteriorate, fail, or go wrong.
A business deal goes south when it falls through.
A relationship goes south when it sours.
The phrase likely derives from the downward direction on maps, associating south with decline: Everything was fine until the economy went south.
- tankLarge storage vessel
- declineDecrease or refuse
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- calamitySevere misfortune or disaster
- failBe unsuccessful
falls apart · deteriorate · worsen · ruination · collapse · crash and burn · adversity · doom · backslide · downfall · nosedive · regression · bottom out · plunge · fall apart · diminish · decrease · disappointment
trajectory/outcome
goes southimproves
Gets better gradually
gets better · looks up · turns around · recovers · picks up
goes, gone, goer, goers, south, southern, southerly, southward, southwards