English idiom

go pear-shaped

Register · Informal CEFR C1

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Figurative meaning

to go wrong, to fail in an awkward way

Why this phrase?

The origin is disputed; one theory pictures a balloon losing its round shape. Today it means a plan collapsing into a mess.

Example

“The whole event went pear-shaped when the speakers cancelled.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

go down in flames

To fail suddenly and completely.

can of worms

a complicated problem that causes trouble the moment it is touched

get out of hand

To become impossible to control.

go downhill

to become progressively worse in condition, quality, or performance

miss the boat

To lose a chance to do something by being too slow or late.

a hot potato

A controversial or awkward issue that no one wants to deal with.

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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