south

Toward the antarctic

South is one of the four cardinal directions, the one pointing toward the South Pole and opposite north.

As an adverb or adjective, it describes movement or position in that direction: They drove south for hours, the south side of the building.

In figurative use, to go south means to decline or fail: The deal went south fast. (Capitalized South refers to geographic regions.)

compass

cardinal

Of foremost importance

bearingPosture or orientation
navigationDetermining position and course
orientationPosition relative to surroundings

magnetic · azimuth · sextant · mariner · compass rose · wayfinding · nautical · heading · direction · lodestone

geography

hemisphere

Half of a ball

equatorMidpoint circle of rotation
latitudeGeographic or personal freedom
tropicWarm Earth zone

subtropical · temperate · austral · longitude · meridian · polar

warmth

sunshine

Direct rays from above

tropicalOf hot, humid regions
balmyMildly warm, soothing
mildModerate in intensity

temperate · summery · warm · humid · breezy · pleasant · subtropical · gentle · basking · thaw

migration

snowbirds

Cold-weather climate refugees

geesePlural of goose
swallowsGulps or migratory birds
monarchsRulers with crowns

whales · wildebeest · caribou · flyway · wintering · seasonal · overwintering · migratory · breeding · journey

metaphor

decline

Decrease or refuse

downturnEconomic decline period
deteriorationProcess of declining quality
crashSudden violent impact

plummet · nosedive · collapse · tank · bottom · fall · drop · descent · failure · slump

Categories

cardinal directionsnorth, east, west, northeast, northwest
geographycontinents, continent, oceans, countries, country
locationhere, there, place, position, location
S wordssay, see, set, sit, son
geography termsmap, atlas, globe, compass, coordinates
Mappingmap, digital maps, compass rose, GPS, latitude

Opposites

cardinal direction

southnorth

Arctic-facing cardinal direction

northward · northern · northerly · northbound · Northern Hemisphere

geographic/cultural region

southnorth

Arctic-facing cardinal direction

Union · Yankees · Yankee · New England

hemispheric/polar orientation

southnorth

Arctic-facing cardinal direction

Northern Hemisphere · North Pole · Arctic · boreal · northerly

Phrases

South AmericaWestern Hemisphere's southern continent
South BeachMiami's iconic oceanfront district
South KoreaEast Asian peninsular democracy
down southToward southern regions
gone southDeteriorated significantly
headed southDeclining or moving downward

Family

southern, southwest, southeast, southward, southerly, southbound, southeastern, southwestern, southerner

Familiarity: Top 3,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G