What Is the Terminology for "Going Downhill"?

Something that is rapidly or persistently deteriorating is said to be "going downhill." It can be used to characterize a firm, a community, or even an individual's health or financial situation.

The terms decline, descend, degenerate, fall apart, deteriorate, fail, and slip are examples of related words and phrases. (c) Roget's Thesaurus, Random House.

Definition

"Going downhill" is a metaphor for something that is getting worse. It can be used to explain anything, including the financial situation of a company or an individual. "It's all downhill from here" is a succinct way to put it, or "Things have been going downhill since the kitchen helped quit."

Decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, fail, and slip away are synonyms for "downhill." When writing or speaking, it might be useful to grasp the subtle differences between synonyms in order to express meaning.

People who feel as though their finest days are behind them can say something like, "Life has been all downhill since my divorce." This could indicate that things have gotten worse in their relationship, personal life, or work over time. It could also mean that a significant worsening of the situation is imminent. This may also be a sign that action is necessary. Refer to Related Words and Antonyms for further details. taken from the Free Dictionary.

Alternative Words

Going downhill has a number of synonyms, each having a subtle meaning. The most prevalent ones are diminishing, disintegrating, and losing ground. Any of these can express the same underlying message, depending on the situation.

Taking a turn for the worst, sliding downhill, falling out of favor, hitting rock bottom, degenerating, going to pot, and decreasing swiftly are additional terms and phrases that have the same meaning as "going downhill." Your writing will gain depth and diversity if you use these substitutes.

It's implied that things will only get worse when someone says, "It's all downhill from here." Try to take action to change if this is the case for you. If not, it's likely that you'll eventually reach your breaking point. From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus; Philip Lief Group, copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Every trademark belongs to the owner of that particular brand.

Inconsistencies

"Going downhill" isn't always a bad thing, even though it suggests a decrease or degradation. When used in the context of an activity, it can also mean that something is becoming simpler or easier. For instance, after the pieces are in their final positions, a jigsaw puzzle that you're having trouble assembling can be simpler for you to finish.

The fact that going uphill is the reverse of going downhill is another intriguing contradiction. Uphill is viewed favorably because it denotes achievement, ascent to the top, or professional advancement. But the expression is also frequently used negatively. For instance, you might hear someone claim that things have only gotten worse for a company if they have been having trouble ever since a new owner came over. This is a result of the ambiguity that exists between uphill and downhill, which can have both positive and negative interpretations.

As an example

Something is deteriorating or getting worse while it is heading south. It may proceed gradually or rapidly. The expression can be used to describe a person, a business, or a partnership.

She appeared content for a time, but it appears that her marriage is failing. Since becoming unwell, his training career has taken a turn for the worst.

The trail's downhill section is steeper and more challenging than the other sections. Downhill sports like skiing and snowboarding demand a certain amount of expertise to navigate.

A person is going to hit a rough patch in their life or profession when they declare, "It's all downhill from here." They might be on the verge of losing their job, becoming ill, or experiencing some other negative outcome. If at all possible, try to stay out of these kinds of situations. They will just exacerbate the situation.