go into a tailspin

go into a tailspin
go into a tailspin
1. Lit. [for an airplane] to lose control and spin to the earth, nose first. •

The plane shook and then suddenly went into a tailspin.

•

The pilot was not able to bring the plane out of the tailspin, and it crashed into the sea.

2. Fig. [for someone] to become disoriented or panicked; [for someone's life] to fall apart. •

Although John achieved great success, his life went into a tailspin. It took him a year to get straightened out.

•

After her father died, Mary's world fell apart, and she went into a tailspin.

* * *
or[go into a nose dive] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fall or go down badly; collapse; give up trying. * /The team went into a tailspin after their captain was hurt, and they were badly beaten./ 2. {informal} To become very anxious, confused, or mentally sick; give up hope. * /The man went into a tailspin after his wife died and he never got over it./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • go into a tailspin — or[go into a nose dive] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fall or go down badly; collapse; give up trying. * /The team went into a tailspin after their captain was hurt, and they were badly beaten./ 2. {informal} To become very anxious, confused, or… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • go into a tailspin — to quickly become worse. The country s nickel industry went into a tailspin, with production falling for five years in a row. His career went into a tailspin when he joined the New York Mets. Usage notes: sometimes used to describe someone s… …   New idioms dictionary

  • go\ into\ a\ tailspin — • go into a tailspin • go into a nose dive 1. v. phr. informal To fall or go down badly; collapse; give up trying. The team went into a tailspin after their captain was hurt, and they were badly beaten. 2. informal To become very anxious,… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • tailspin — tail|spin [ˈteılˌspın] n [C usually singular] 1.) in/into a tailspin in or into a bad situation that keeps getting worse in a way that you cannot control ▪ Raising interest rates could send the economy into a tailspin . 2.) when a plane falls… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • tailspin — tail|spin [ teıl,spın ] noun singular 1. ) INFORMAL an occasion when something or someone suddenly gets into a very bad state: sending the nation s financial markets into a tailspin 2. ) an occasion when an airplane falls in the sky with its NOSE …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • tailspin — UK [ˈteɪlˌspɪn] / US noun [singular] 1) an occasion when a plane falls in the sky with its nose (= front part) downwards and its tail (= end part) spinning in a very wide circle The plane went into a tailspin. 2) informal an occasion when… …   English dictionary

  • tailspin — n. to go into a tailspin * * * to go into a tailspin …   Combinatory dictionary

  • tailspin — noun a) The rapid, uncontrollable descent of an aircraft in a steep spiral. The loss of the third engine threw the plane into a tailspin. b) A severe mental or emotional …   Wiktionary

  • tailspin — See: GO INTO A TAILSPIN …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • tailspin — See: GO INTO A TAILSPIN …   Dictionary of American idioms

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