Decline is a part of life that we often encounter, whether it pertains to health, popularity, or fortunes. Understanding expressions related to decline can enrich your vocabulary and enhance your communication. Here are 20 expressions that precisely capture the concept of decline.
1. Go Downhill
Meaning: Get worse.
Example: His health went downhill after the surgery.
2. Fade Away
Meaning: Disappear slowly.
Example: The memory of the event is fading away.
3. Lose Ground
Meaning: Fall behind.
Example: The company is losing ground to competitors.
4. Fall Apart
Meaning: Break into pieces.
Example: Their relationship is starting to fall apart.
5. Run Down
Meaning: Become weaker.
Example: The battery is running down quickly.
6. Drop Off
Meaning: Decrease.
Example: Sales have dropped off recently.
7. Go to Pot
Meaning: Deteriorate.
Example: The garden has gone to pot since he left.
8. Go South
Meaning: Fail or decline.
Example: The deal went south unexpectedly.
9. Break Down
Meaning: Stop functioning.
Example: The old car finally broke down.
10. Wear Out
Meaning: Become unusable.
Example: The shoes have worn out after years of use.
11. Fall Off
Meaning: Decrease in number.
Example: Attendance has fallen off dramatically.
12. Slip Away
Meaning: Gradually disappear.
Example: Opportunities are slipping away one by one.
13. Waste Away
Meaning: Gradually weaken.
Example: He’s wasting away from illness.
14. Decline In Health
Meaning: Become ill.
Example: She’s declining in health recently.
15. Sink Into
Meaning: Become worse.
Example: The country is sinking into chaos.
16. Come Apart
Meaning: Fall to pieces.
Example: The chair is coming apart at the joints.
17. Slide Back
Meaning: Regress.
Example: He’s sliding back into old habits.
18. Wither Away
Meaning: Gradually fade.
Example: Her enthusiasm withered away over time.
19. Go Bust
Meaning: Go bankrupt.
Example: Many businesses went bust last year.
20. Run Out
Meaning: Deplete.
Example: We’re running out of supplies.