PhrasesHub

going south

    Definitions

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

      • deteriorating
        Describing a situation or condition that is declining or getting worse

      • departing
        Referring to someone or something leaving a certain place or location

    Examples of going south

    • The value of the stock market has been going south lately.

      This idiom is used to indicate a decrease or downfall in value or worth. In this example, the speaker is saying that the stock market has been losing value recently.

    • Since the company made some poor decisions, we've been going south financially.

      This idiom shows that a situation is getting worse or deteriorating. In this instance, it means that the company's financial status is declining due to poor decision-making.

    • I've been feeling depressed lately and it seems like my mood has been going south.

      This idiom is commonly used to describe a change in mood or emotional state, usually indicating a negative change. Here, it means the speaker's mood has been becoming increasingly negative or depressed.

    • The weather has been going south all week and I'm sick of it.

      This idiom is often used to describe a change in conditions, whether it be weather, mood, or market value. In this example, the speaker is expressing frustration with the continuously unfavorable weather conditions.

    • The company's sales have been going south lately.

      This idiom is used to describe a situation that is getting worse or declining rapidly. In this case, the company's sales have been decreasing rapidly and negatively, just like the direction southward would be on a map.

    • After their team lost the championship, their spirits also started going south.

      Following a significant setback, such as losing a championship, a person or team's confidence and morale can quickly drop, mirroring the direction southward on a map.

    • Since the economy took a turn for the worse, many businesses have been going south and closing their doors.

      During tough economic times, businesses can struggle and ultimately fail, causing the number of active businesses to decrease in a similar fashion to the direction southward on a map.

    • The weather forecast for the weekend is not looking good - it's going south fast.

      When talking about weather, this idiom is used to signify a rapid, significant drop in temperature, which would be analogous to a drop in altitude, and ultimately point southward on a map.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "going south" can be used to discourage someone from a certain activity, to describe a situation that is deteriorating, or to refer to someone or something departing from a particular place.

    Origin of "going south"

    The origin of the idiom "going south" is believed to come from the idea of heading in a negative direction. This could be in reference to the south being historically associated with less development or progress, or it could stem from the idea of the south being the direction of winter, darkness, and cold. Over time, the phrase has extended to encompass a range of meanings related to decline and departure. For example, in the context of financial markets, "going south" refers to a decline in value, while in the context of travel, it refers to heading in a southern direction. Overall, the idiom has evolved to encompass a wide range of meanings related to negative outcomes and departure.