nosedive

[ nohz-dahyv ]

noun

1. a plunge of an aircraft with the forward part pointing downward.
2. a sudden sharp drop or rapid decline:

   a time when market values were in a nosedive.

verb (used without object)

, nose·dived or nose·dove, nose·dived, nose·div·ing.

1. to go into a nosedive:

   a warning that prices might nosedive.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nosedive¹

First recorded in 1910–15; nose + dive

Example Sentences

The reality of the coming winter, featuring 4pm sunsets and icy temperatures, was setting in, and I worried that my motivation to go on rambling post-work walks was about to take a nosedive.

From Quartz

Oil prices took a nosedive during the peak of the pandemic, sending another warning that the industry’s standing on shaky legs.

From Quartz

As Americans stare into the threat of a deep recession, it’s no surprise lawmakers are looking to Depression-era policies to steer the economy out of its nosedive.

From Fortune

When your “portfolio” is split up like this, you won’t lose too much if a new venture takes a nosedive.

From Search Engine Watch

An existing manual penalty, also known as a manual action, took the SERP slide into a nosedive.

From Search Engine Land

Back in the 2011 season, the Colombian crop took a nosedive, dropping from 12 million bags to 7.6 million.

From The Daily Beast

Much the same as the rest of the world, the music industry took a nosedive in 2008.

From The Daily Beast

Detroit broke down, the Steel Belt rusted, and bourbon whiskey took a terrifying nosedive.

From The Daily Beast

Local newspapers in Caracas have also reported that a fishing crew witnessed the plane nosedive into the sea.

From The Daily Beast

Whatever else you say about his policies, they halted the economic nosedive of 2008-2009.

From The Daily Beast