go south

== English == === Etymology === (become worse): The origin is unclear. Common belief attributes it to the standard orientation of maps, where south is the downwards direction; in this regard, compare also go downhill, decline, and drop off. Alternatively, it could stem from a euphemism used by some Native Americans for dying. === Pronunciation === === Verb === go south (third-person singular simple present goes south, present participle going south, simple past went south, past participle gone south) (idiomatic) To become unfavorable; to decrease; to take a turn for the worse. Synonyms: go downhill, go left, head south, move south, turn south; see also Thesaurus:worsen 1967, Bill Sparks, Wild Weasel mission 5 November 1967 I still had 5 miles (8 km) or so to go to cross the river when all of the controls went south. The bird pitched up, shuddered, rolled right like it was going to spin […] (intransitive) To make an escape; to disappear. (slang) To give somebody oral sex. (poker slang) To rathole: to take chips off the table in a cash game without exiting the game completely, especially with the intention of limiting losses. ==== Usage notes ==== This idiom is constructed with a variety of terms, all consisting of a verb indicating movement and a direction indicating the movement is to the south (southerly, southward, etc.) The exact construction may be modified to fit the circumstances. ==== Translations ==== === References ===