go pear-shaped

Meaning

Verb

• To go wrong; to go awry.

Origin

• From the image of a solid rectangle 'slipping down' into a pear shape, thus 'the bottom drops out'.{{cite-book
• |author=Jonathon Green
• |title=Cassell's Dictionary of Slang
• |edition=second
• |publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson
• |location=London
• Presumably from the image of a balloon or football losing its spherical shape after puncturing.
• {{cite-book
• |author=Tony Thorne
• |title=Dictionary of Contemporary Slang
• |edition=third
• |publisher=A & C Black
• |location=London