What it means
When something that was going fine suddenly goes wrong and falls apart. A plan, a trip, a night out goes pear-shaped the moment one thing slips and drags the rest down with it.
Usage examples
"The barbecue went pear-shaped when it started chucking it down and the gazebo blew into next door's pond."
"We had it all timed perfectly, then the train was cancelled and the whole day went pear-shaped."
"Interview was going great until I called the boss by the wrong name, proper went pear-shaped after that."
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.