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Synonyms

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.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Pride believes it is unlikely that the increasingly debt-fueled tech boom would go south in a hurry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 30, 2025

Some have said they attempted to go south but were unable to pitch their tents, so returned to Gaza City.

From BBC • Sep. 16, 2025

When things go south, they get drawn in deeper — Cane, reluctantly, and Harlan, almost enthusiastically.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2025

“I remember the way. I go north to go south, east to go west, back to go forward. And to touch the light I have to pass beneath the shadow.”

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.