Pear-Shaped

Pear-Shaped (adjective / UK Slang)

(Also heard as: Gone pear-shaped, Going pear-shaped, Gone belly up)

Definition:

Pear-shaped describes a plan or situation that has gone wrong. When people say “it all went pear-shaped”, they mean the plan fell apart. It is usually said with a touch of humour, even when the situation was a disaster.

Where Pear-Shaped Comes From:

The origin is debated. One popular story says it comes from Royal Air Force slang in the 1940s, where a pilot who could not fly a perfectly round loop produced a pear-shaped one. Another theory links it to the shape of things that sag or fall out of shape. Whichever is true, it entered mainstream British English by the 1980s.

How People Actually Use Pear-Shaped:

It is used for plans, parties, holidays and sporting matches: “the barbecue went pear-shaped when it started to rain”. It is a lighter way to say something went badly wrong. In the USA, you might hear “went south” or “fell apart” instead.

Is Pear-Shaped About Body Shape?

Not in this sense. It is a separate idiom, although “pear-shaped” can also describe a body type, so context is important.

Examples in the Wild:

• “Everything went pear-shaped after the power cut.”

  Meaning: The plan fell apart.

• “If the train is late, the whole day goes pear-shaped.”

  Meaning: The schedule gets ruined.

• “It was going well until it went pear-shaped.”

  Meaning: It started fine and then went wrong.

Similar Slang:

Dodgy, Gutted, Cooked, Naff, Wonky, Lost the Plot

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