go pear-shaped
Definition of go pear-shaped
British, informal
: to go wrong She was in debt, and when she lost her job it all went pear-shaped.
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Word by Word Definitions
: to move on a course : proceed — compare stop
: to move out of or away from a place expressed or implied : leave, depart
: to take a certain course or follow a certain procedure
: the act or manner of going
: the height of fashion : rage
: an often unexpected turn of affairs : occurrence
: functioning properly : being in good and ready condition
: a game played between two players who alternately place black and white stones on a board checkered by 19 vertical lines and 19 horizontal lines in an attempt to enclose the larger area on the board
: having an oval shape markedly tapering at one end
: free from harshness, thinness, or nasality
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up go pear-shaped? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!