go wrong

American  

[goh rawng] / ˈgoʊ ˈrɔŋ /

phrase

1. to malfunction; to interfere with a process so that it fails (usually used with the indefinite subject something).

2. to take an incorrect path or turn so as to become lost.

3. to make an unwise choice or decision or apply faulty logic, leading to a bad conclusion or course of action.

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go wrong Idioms  

1. Go astray, make a mistake. For example, We made a left turn and somehow went wrong from then on , or You won't go wrong if you follow the directions in the dress pattern . [c. 1300]

2. Take to evil ways, become a criminal, as in As soon as he turned thirteen, Billy fell in with a gang and began to go wrong . [c. 1500]

3. Fail, turn out badly, as in Everything about this party has gone wrong . [Late 1500s]

4. Fail to work properly, as in The car starts fine, but as soon as you put it in gear, the transmission goes wrong . [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

go wrong

There was the constant background worry that something else would go wrong.

From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026

Of course, bad decisions have to happen, or nothing will go wrong.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

“Create your own retirement model now, even if you’re 15 years out. A lot can go wrong in those 15 years, but it’s a starting point.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

But Americans have record equity in their homes, so there is a big cushion if things go wrong with the economy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

As Inej waited in the gully with the others, she considered all the things that might go wrong.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

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Related Words

• err
• misconstrue
• misinterpret
• misjudge
• misread
• misunderstand
• overestimate
• overrate
• overvalue
• underestimate
• undervalue

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