go south

idiom

The phrase "go south" is often used in English to describe a situation that worsens or deteriorates. It may also have other meanings depending on the context.

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Definition

B2General

(idiomatic, common)To worsen or deteriorate.

Example

The project started well, but everything went south after the budget cuts.
Their relationship went south after the argument.

C1Escape

(idiomatic)To disappear or escape.

Example

After the heist, the robbers went south with the loot.
She decided to go south after the scandal broke out.

C2Slang

(slang)To perform oral sex.

C2Poker

(slang, technical)To remove chips from the table without exiting the game.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "go south":

go west go down go left go downtown go sour go wrong move down gone north about go under to go go backwards go far go awry go bad go underground go to pot go to shit go at go towards go to go forth go to the country