go south

Idioms  

1. 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

See Examples For:

go south

Micron is also getting upfront cash payments from customers that could ultimately approach $40 billion to $50 billion, which serve as a solid “break fee” if things go south, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

It’s intimidating to see how much you spend, but truly understanding your habits is the only way to build a smart financial plan that survives when things go south.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 31, 2026

“If negotiations look more likely, the market’s going to go south, if it makes it look like it’s going to drag on for much longer, then the market goes higher.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

Both the UK and US's research facilities in Antarctica are on the hunt for the next batch of workers to "go south".

From BBC ● Feb. 22, 2026

The whale’s belly groaned with hunger, and he said, “I’d better chase down those squid before they go south too.”

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown

Related Words

• abandon
• depart
• die
• die out
• dissipate
• dissolve
• escape
• evaporate
• expire
• fade
• flee
• fly
• go
• leave
• melt
• perish
• recede
• retire
• retreat
• sink