The idiom "go pear-shaped" is a British slang term that means that something has gone wrong or failed unexpectedly. It is often used to describe a situation that was initially going well but has suddenly taken a turn for the worse.
The origins of the phrase are unclear, but it is believed to have originated from the shape of a pear, which is round at the top and narrow at the bottom. When something goes pear-shaped, it means that it has become distorted or misshapen, just like a pear that has gone bad.
Here are some examples of how to use the idiom "go pear-shaped" in a sentence:
- "I thought my presentation was going well, but then the projector stopped working, and everything went pear-shaped."
- "We had planned a lovely picnic in the park, but it started raining, and the whole day went pear-shaped."
- "The project was going smoothly until the deadline got moved up, and then everything went pear-shaped."
In summary, "go pear-shaped" is a slang term used to describe a situation that has gone wrong or failed unexpectedly. It is a colorful way to express disappointment or frustration when things don't go as planned.
• The negotiations between the two countries went pear-shaped due to disagreements over trade policies. (political and economic situations)
• The meeting was going well until the boss arrived and things went pear-shaped. (workplace situations)
• I was making lunch when everything started to go pear-shaped. (basic everyday situation)
• We had planned a picnic, but everything went pear-shaped when it started to rain. (social and travel situations)
• The astronaut's spacewalk went pear-shaped when their suit malfunctioned, causing them to lose communication with the spacecraft. (scientific and technical situations)
• I thought I had everything under control, but the project went pear-shaped when the deadline approached. (academic and professional situations)