What does the phrase went south mean?

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.

Where does the term went south come from?

The American Dictionary of Regional English suggests the term is derived from the Native American belief that “go south” means to die. In fact, a Harper’s Magazine article in 1894 reported: “‘To go south’ is, among the Sioux, the favorite euphemism for death.”

What does it mean this conversation is going south?

The English idiom “go south” has a distinct meaning related to something going wrong or worsening. For instance, an English speaker may say that a deal is about to “go south,” meaning it is headed toward failure, or that profits are “going south” meaning that profits are decreasing.

What does everything went downhill mean?

If you say that something is going downhill, you mean that it is becoming worse or less successful. Since I started to work longer hours things have gone steadily downhill.

What does it mean if something goes west?

UK informal. If something goes west, it is lost, damaged, or spoiled in some way: I couldn’t get a ticket – that’s my last chance to see the show gone west.

What does it mean to go sideways?

I have not heard went sideways to mean that something went wrong, no. (I haven’t heard went pear-shaped, either.)

What does everything went south mean?

To escape; to vanish or disappear. (Not necessarily in a southerly direction.) Everyone in the gang went south when they learned that the police had discovered their hideout. 2. To fall or drop; to depreciate; to lose quality or value.

What does from the south mean?

In and of itself, the label of ‘from the South’ refers to the UK’s North/South divide rather than any racial implication. Lennie James is a Londoner [though Nottingham-born], the rest of the cast are generically Northern.

What does going the whole hog mean?

Definition of go (the) whole hog informal. : to do something in a very thorough and complete way If we’re going to have a party, we might as well go the whole hog and hire a band.

Where does the phrase Gone West come from?

This expression has been ascribed to a Native American legend that a dying man goes to meet the setting sun. However, it was first recorded in a poem of the early 1300s: “Women and many a willful man, As wind and water have gone west.”

What does it mean to go east?

If you go east, you travel toward the east.

Do people from the south have extreme accents?

However, just because a lot of people from the South like to say y’all doesn’t mean their accents are extreme. Movies and television shows like to make it seem like anyone from Virginia and below talk with an accent so heavy, it could give Tom Sawyer a run for his money. That typically isn’t the case.

Do you think the south is anti-progression?

Many people believe that the South is anti-progression and that most areas still adhere to antiquated gender roles. That’s not really true. Sure, there are some areas and people who are stuck in the old ways but that’s going to be true regardless of locale. In fact, Southern women are known for being extremely strong-willed and independent.

Are southerners good at driving in snow?

Unlike northerners, who are used to driving through snowstorms, people in the south can barely make it down the street when there are light snow flurries. Southern weather can be very fickle, which means southerners never really know what to expect and therefore aren’t prepared for inclement weather driving.

What drives Southern voters to the right?

Conservative, Christian values are what drive southern voters, and that means leaning to the right on the ballot. Since so many country music songs are about small town life, and many country music artists are from the south, it goes without saying that southerners are country music fans.