go into free fall

go into free fall

To experience a sudden, rapid, and uncontrollable decline (e.g., in value, reputation, success, etc.) that continues unabated for an indefinite length of time. The stock market went into free fall after the housing market collapsed. After getting busted by the police last year, John's life has gone into free fall.
See also: fall, free, go
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

go into freefall

JOURNALISM
COMMON If the value or level of something goes into freefall, it starts to fall very quickly. A massive £8bn was wiped off values, and the pound went into freefall. Fears are now widespread that shares could go into freefall before Christmas. Note: You can also say that the value or level of something is in freefall. Perot's ratings were in freefall, his election campaign a disaster. Note: You can also say that the value or level of something freefalls. His career seemed about to freefall into oblivion. Note: In parachuting, freefall is the part of the jump before the parachute opens.
See also: freefall, go
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

be in/go into ˌfree ˈfall

be falling/start to fall rapidly: Share prices are in free fall in Tokyo this morning. The value of the euro against the dollar went into free fall as soon as the news was announced.
From the moment you jump out of a plane until the moment your parachute opens, you are in free fall.
See also: fall, free, go
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be in/go into free fall
  • go into freefall
  • of a sudden
  • all of a sudden
  • till (one) is blue in the face
  • till you're blue in the face
  • have a (sudden) rush of blood to the head
  • have a rush of blood to the head
  • plunge from
  • plunge from (something)
References in periodicals archive
If the market was to go into free fall, the fund would step in to buy and stabilise it.' The investment sense of the management company would be of great essence.
Has IMF put a damper on PSX support fund?
"They could go into free fall," he told BBC Radio Five Live.
SUTTON: I FEAR IT'S ALL ROVER; IN ASSOCIATION WITH Championship: Tomorrow BRENTF'D v BLACKB'N
Once in orbit, these "test masses" were unclamped and allowed to go into free fall while a high-resolution laser interferometer measured their positions.
Gravitational Wave Hunt May Soon Move To Space
Perhaps the irony is not lost that with India's finance minister Pranab Mukherjee having resigned from his post yesterday to campaign for the more lofty and ceremonial office of President of India, the Indian markets, especially the rupee, continue to go into free fall.
Pranab's exit as finance minister is opportune
When state budgets go into free fall, states and localities slash services that people need and appreciate.
States of distress
The ire of many seniors will be even greater once they realize that for many of them the donut hole is really an abyss in which their out-of-pocket expenses go into free fall.
Part D amnesty
When Carol said she would not let any of the programme's interior designers touch her own house in Glasgow, you could almost hear her luvvie- shares go into free fall.
SHOCKS & SCARES; How the stars' FTSE has plummeted
However, Ms Williams does not predict that the market is about to go into free fall, although the level of debt some people are incurring remains a problem.
Houses go off the boil
Sophia Swire is never likely to forget that Friday in October 1987 when stock markets began to go into free fall. It was just before Black Monday.
Bright side of Black Monday: Sophia Swire gave up a high-flying career in the City of London for the sake of illiterate children in Asia
Next, which saw its shares go into free fall in March after it issued its first profit warning in years, was a star performer, as the City continued to respond positively to a trading statement which suggested the retailer was on the mend.
No shocks get stocks off the blocks; mkt reps MARKET REPORTS
"We just have to hope the teams above us go into free fall and we can capitalise.
WE CAN ONLY BLOW IT
Any agent, publisher or accountant would go into free fall at the very sight of them."
Shipwreck Photograph Archive Sells for A[pounds sterling]122,500 in Sotheby's Auction
He said: "You can go into free fall very quickly, as we found out last year when we went through a spell of 11 games without a win.
Football: ASH BANGED & WALLOPED; Norwich 0 Reading 1
Being deceived makes our self-esteem go into free fall and we feel no one can be trusted, even if that's not true.
Dr Miriam: SHEATH STRIFE.
However a dark day on January 13, 1990, saw his career as a jockey go into free fall. "I was riding Monanore for Nigel Tinkler at Newcastle when I fell and broke my thigh bone, punctured my lung, had a number of broken ribs and fractured my shoulder.
Racing: Ger loves to be Big And Bold; After his Lyons share of pain this trainer's after some Galway glory