Phrase guide

go to the dogs

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To decline or deteriorate shockingly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

become ruined

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • His business went to pot when economy soured

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: go to pot

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: deteriorate

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: anar en orri — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Dutch: naar de filistijnen gaan — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Dutch: naar de knoppen gaan — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Dutch: naar de kloten gaan — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Dutch: naar de verdoemenis gaan — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Finnish: ränsistyä — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Finnish: rapistua — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • French: aller à vau-l'eau — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • German: vor die Hunde gehen — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Hungarian: ebek harmincadjára jut — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Icelandic: fara í hundana — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Italian: andare a male — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Italian: andare a rotoli — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Norwegian Bokmål: gå i hundene — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: gå i hundane — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Occitan: se desanar — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Occitan: èsser emportat coma per un corrent — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Occitan: anar al fil de l'aiga — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Polish: schodzić na psy — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Polish: zejść na psy — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Russian: пойти́ по́ миру (pojtí pó miru) — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Spanish: irse al diablo — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Spanish: al traste — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Venetan: ndare a remengo — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Venetan: ndar a remengo — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Venetan: ndare in mona — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate
  • Venetan: ndar in mona — idiomatic: to decline or deteriorate