Idiom
pear-shaped
Meanings
Going wrong; failing unexpectedly, especially after starting well.
Definition
If something goes pear-shaped, it goes wrong or fails unexpectedly.
When a plan, situation, or project goes pear-shaped, it stops working and turns into a mess. It often suggests things were going fine at first but then suddenly went wrong. People commonly use it in informal conversation to describe failures or mishaps.
Examples
- Everything was on schedule until the catering went pear-shaped.
- Our road trip went pear-shaped when the car wouldn’t start.
- The presentation went pear-shaped after the projector failed.
- The deal went pear-shaped at the last minute.
- My weekend plans went pear-shaped because I got sick.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share a quick update or confirm plans.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to tease someone or make fun of them in a not-too-serious way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More adjectives
- gobsmacked Completely shocked or amazed, often so much that you cannot speak.
- gutted If you are gutted, you feel extremely upset and disappointed, often because something went wrong.
- skint If someone is skint, they have no money or almost no money.
- tickety-boo If something is tickety-boo, it is going well and everything is in good order.
- sorted If something is sorted, it has been organized into a clear order or arranged into categories.