How do you use "Go pear-shaped" in a sentence?

Everything was fine until it all went pear-shaped. The project went pear-shaped after the budget cuts. Things tend to go pear-shaped when he's in charge.

Go pear-shaped

Q: What does "Go pear-shaped" mean?

To go wrong or fail (British). When something that was going well suddenly goes wrong. Very British expression for plans or situations deteriorating.

Slang Term BritishAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: To go wrong or fail (British).

出问题，失败（英式表达）。

Salir mal o fracasar (expresión británica).

うまくいかなくなる、失敗する（イギリス英語）。

잘못되다, 실패하다 (영국식)

When something that was going well suddenly goes wrong. Very British expression for plans or situations deteriorating.

原本顺利的事情突然出了问题。非常英式的表达，形容计划或情况恶化。

Cuando algo que iba bien de repente sale mal. Expresión muy británica para describir planes o situaciones que se deterioran.

順調だったことが急にうまくいかなくなること。計画や状況が悪化することを表すイギリス特有の表現。

잘 되고 있던 일이 갑자기 잘못될 때. 계획이나 상황이 악화되는 것을 나타내는 매우 영국적인 표현.

Literal meaning: Lose its round shape (become pear-shaped)

Examples

Everything was fine until it all went pear-shaped.
一切都很顺利，直到全搞砸了
Todo iba bien hasta que se torció
すべてうまくいっていたのに、台無しになった
다 잘 되고 있었는데 갑자기 엉망이 됐어.
The project went pear-shaped after the budget cuts.
预算削减后，项目就搞砸了
El proyecto se fue al garete tras los recortes
予算カット後、プロジェクトがダメになった
예산 삭감 후 프로젝트가 엉망이 됐어.
Things tend to go pear-shaped when he's in charge.
他负责的时候，事情往往会出岔子
Las cosas suelen torcerse cuando él está al mando
彼が担当すると、だいたいうまくいかなくなる
그가 맡으면 대체로 일이 꼬여.

Pronunciation

/ɡəʊ peə ʃeɪpt/

Usage Guide

Context: failure, things going wrong, British

Tone: rueful, resigned

✓ Do Say

It went pear-shaped.
事情搞砸了
Se torció
うまくいかなくなったよ
일이 꼬여버렸어.
Everything went pear-shaped.
一切都搞砸了
Todo se torció
全部ダメになった
전부 엉망이 됐어.
Starting to go pear-shaped.
开始出问题了
Está empezando a torcerse
雲行きが怪しくなってきた
꼬이기 시작했어.

✗ Don't Say

Went wrong
Went wrong（太普通）
Went wrong（demasiado común）
Went wrong（普通すぎる）
잘못됐어
Failed
Failed（不够生动）
Failed（menos expresivo）
Failed（味気ない）
실패했어

Common Mistakes

Very British expression
Americans may not understand it

Origin & History

Possibly from RAF slang about imperfect loops or balloons.

Etymology: British slang, possibly RAF

First recorded: 1980s

Cultural Context

Era: Modern (1980s onwards)

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: British comedy; British workplace

Regional notes: British and Australian expression.

Variations

Go pear-shapedWent pear-shapedGoing pear-shaped