British Slang – Go pear shaped
What Does “Go Pear Shaped” Mean?
Meaning — it has all gone wrong. This expression describes a situation that hasn’t turned out as expected. It can also describe something that has been totally ruined.
Where Does It Come From?
One popular theory traces this phrase to Royal Air Force slang. Pilots practising aerobatic loops were supposed to fly a neat circle — but a badly flown loop would come out lopsided, more like a pear than a circle. A “pear-shaped” manoeuvre meant one that had gone wrong, and the phrase eventually spread into everyday English.
Other Ways to Say It’s All Gone Wrong
- It’s all going off — everything is going wrong and people are arguing or fighting. This can also describe a party that’s getting out of hand.
- It’s all gone Pete Tong — British rhyming slang for “it’s all gone wrong.”
- Things went south — an expression that originates from the stock market losing money, i.e. prices going down (“south” on a chart).
Example
“I’m having a bad hair day, my boyfriend has left me and now the dog has eaten my new shoes. It’s all gone pear shaped!”
What is slang?
Slang is very informal language. It’s usually spoken rather than written, and is often used by a particular group of people or in a particular place. Slang changes over time, and using it well is a great way to sound more natural when speaking English.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means a situation has all gone wrong — it hasn’t turned out as expected, or has been totally ruined.
One popular theory traces it to Royal Air Force slang: pilots practising loops sometimes flew them badly, ending up pear-shaped instead of a neat circle — so a “pear-shaped” manoeuvre meant one that had gone wrong.
You could say “it’s all going off,” “it’s all gone Pete Tong” (British rhyming slang), or “things went south.”
Test Yourself
Discuss:
What’s your go-to phrase for “it’s all gone wrong”? Tell us on X — @EnglishStudy.
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