lapse into
Definition of lapse into
1 : to begin using or doing (something that should be avoided) for a short period of time He's a good writer, but he occasionally lapses into jargon.
2 : to begin to be in (a worse or less active state or condition) The crowd lapsed into silence. The patient lapsed into a coma. The society lapsed into decline.
From the M-W Editors
Word by Word Definitions
: a slight error typically due to forgetfulness or inattention
: a temporary deviation or fall especially from a higher to a lower state
: a becoming less : decline
: to fall from an attained and usually high level (as of morals or manners) to one much lower
: to depart from an accepted pattern or standard
: sink, slip
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