taken a dive
Fallen off dramatically
Taken a dive means to have deliberately lost or failed, especially in sports or competitions where the outcome was fixed: The boxer took a dive in the third round.
The phrase evokes a fighter falling to the canvas on purpose.
It extends to any situation where someone intentionally underperforms or allows failure: Critics accused the company of taking a dive on safety standards.
A dive can also describe a sudden sharp decline: The stock has taken a dive since earnings came out.
- foul playCriminal or violent action
- tankingDeclining rapidly, collapsing
- sandbaggingFeigning weakness strategically
- losing streakSeries of consecutive defeats
- failureLack of success
collusion · setback · gone south · liquidation · bear market · rigged · economic downturn · bankruptcy · underperformance · depreciation · discouragement · burnout · disappointment · misfortune · plummet · nosedive · stagnation · collapse