what goes up must come down
This proverb suggests that all things experiencing an upward trend will eventually experience a decline.
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Definition
B2General
(figurative)Any rise in success, influence, or popularity will eventually be followed by a decline.
Example
- He became a millionaire in just a few years, but what goes up must come down, and he eventually lost everything.
C1Substance Use
(figurative, informal)The high from using drugs will be followed by a period of withdrawal or come down.
Example
- They partied all night, but what goes up must come down, and they felt terrible the next morning.
B1Physics
(literal, technical)Objects propelled upwards will eventually be pulled back down by gravity.
Example
- The ball reached its peak height and then started to fall, proving the principle that what goes up must come down.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "what goes up must come down":
what goes around comes aroundup and downfall upups and downs