gone south
Taken a downturn
Gone south describes something that has failed, deteriorated, or disappeared.
A business deal goes south when it falls through.
A relationship goes south when it sours.
The phrase likely derives from the association of downward movement with decline—south being "down" on maps.
Everything was fine until the economy went south.
- derailedThrown off course
- off the railsBehaving erratically or chaotically
- declinedRefused or diminished
- gone wrongDeviated from intended outcome
- tankedFailed utterly, collapsed
hit the skids · imploded · down the drain · depressed · crumbled · descended · defeated · collapsed · disheartened · fled · flew the coop · below the belt · worsened · discouraged · faltered · deteriorated · Dixie · pessimistic
gone southimproved
Made superior to before
gotten better · turned around · looking up · on the mend · bounced back
gone southworked out
Successfully determined or solved
panned out · come together · taken off · hit the jackpot · paid off
goes, going, south, southern, southerly, southward, southwards, southerner