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# gone sideways

phrase (adjective phrase: go sideways, goes, went, has gone sideways; mainly US)

«gone sideways» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (informal euphemism) gone wrong in an unexpected way; got out of control.
2. (literal) moved to the side, not forward.

### In the lessons

A softer, informal way to say a plan or situation went wrong, common in American business, film and sports talk; everyday informal, US mainly.

### Examples

- The meeting went sideways when the boss got angry.
- Our camping trip went sideways when the tent blew away.
- The plan went sideways at the last minute.
- When the crab walks, it goes sideways.
- Things can go sideways fast if you don't follow safety rules.
- The robbery in the film goes sideways when the alarm sounds.
- My birthday party went sideways when the bouncy castle popped.
- The car slid and went sideways on the ice.

### Note

Trap: literal (to the side) or figurative (wrong). Plain words: went wrong, got out of hand.