View synonyms for

go south

Deteriorate or decline, as in The stock market is headed south again. This expression is generally thought to allude to compasses and two-dimensional maps where north is up and south is down. However, among some Native Americans, the term was a euphemism for dying, and possibly this sense led to the present usage. [Slang; first half of 1900s] Also see go west.

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Example Sentences

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The final-round trip west has seen English touring hopes go south before.

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The presence of firearms can make even routine calls go south quickly, he said.

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But Postecoglou's return will have some fans pondering what might have been had he never received an offer to go south.

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“He could be a superb commissioner, or this could go south really fast.”

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With two balls to go, South Africa needed 38 runs to win the Women's T20 World Cup.

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