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# gone south

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

«gone south» 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) got worse; failed; lost value: «the deal went south».
2. (literal) travelled towards the south.

### In the lessons

American informal way to say things went badly, used in business, sport and everyday talk; informal, US mainly, spreading worldwide. Comes from down on a map being south.

### Examples

- Their friendship went south after the argument.
- When the stock market went south, he lost money.
- The game went south in the second half.
- Everything went south when the power cut out.
- The birds go south for the winter.
- My grades went south this term.
- The plan went south when the car broke down.
- "Things have really gone south," the coach sighed.

### Note

Trap: often not about direction; it means got worse. In geography, «go south» is literal. Plain words: got worse, failed.