go to pot

Related to go to pot: go belly up, go above and beyond

go to pot

To deteriorate or go awry. Boy, this party has really gone to pot. First, there was the issue with the caterer, and now half the guests aren't coming.
See also: go, pot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

go to pot

 and go to the dogs
Fig. to go to ruin; to deteriorate. My whole life seems to be going to pot. My lawn is going to pot. I had better weed it.
See also: go, pot
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

go to pot

Also, go to the dogs. Deteriorate, decline; come to a bad end. For example, My lawn has gone to pot during the drought, or The city schools are going to the dogs. The first of these colloquial expressions dates from the late 1500s and alludes to inferior pieces of meat being cut up for the stewpot. The second, from the 1600s, alludes to the traditional view of dogs as inferior creatures. Also see rack and ruin; run to seed.
See also: go, pot
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

go to pot

INFORMAL
If something goes to pot, its condition becomes very bad, because it has not been properly looked after. The neighbourhood really is going to pot. My figure went to pot after I had Daniel.
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Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

go to pot

deteriorate through neglect. informal
The idea here is of chopping ingredients up into small pieces before putting them in the pot for cooking, and from this comes the sense ‘be ruined or destroyed’.
See also: go, pot
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

go (all) to ˈpot

(informal) be spoiled because people are not working hard or taking care of things: This whole country’s going to pot. She used to write very nicely, but her handwriting’s really gone to pot now she uses a computer all the time.
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Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

gone to pot

Ruined, destroyed. This seemingly modern slang expression dates from the sixteenth century. John Heywood’s 1546 proverb collection includes “The weaker goeth to the potte,” referring to being cut into pieces like stew meat for the pot, and Sir John Harington’s translation of Orlando Furioso (1591) has “If any more we take the field, our side goes to the pot.”
See also: gone, pot
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer

go to pot

Become useless. When a chicken or other edible farm animal out-lived its earthly utility, it would be cooked and eaten. That's the pot to which it would go.
See also: go, pot
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • gone to pot
  • go to the dogs
  • be coming apart at the seams
  • come apart at the seams
  • come apart at the seams, to
  • come/fall apart at the seams
  • fall apart at the seams
  • down the tube
  • down the tube(s)
  • down the tubes
References in periodicals archive
Victory on his home Old Trafford turf would secure the Ashes for a third successive series, but as soon as the Ashes becomes tangible England tend to go to pot. At Headingley in 2009, England were dreaming of open top bus parades when they were mugged by an innings.
NO HAND ON URN YET
As a Scot living in Blackpool, I can assure you that the economy of this beautiful seaside town would go to pot if Scottish, Irish and even Isle of Man banknotes and coins were not accepted by shopkeepers, apartment owners or hoteliers.
Your view: Take note
But one Cardiff MP has taken this idea further, suggesting farming should literally go to pot.
FARMING LIFE IN FOCUS
"Technology can be the downfall of cheating spouses - one suspicious text message or email and everything can go to pot."
Men twice as likely to love cheat; RELATIONSHIPS
my patio plant lay-outs always go to pot DO you have any tips on organising pots on the patio?
EXPERT ADVICE
WE WON'T GO TO POT: Lambeth police chief Brian Moore spells out the message that cannabis remains illegal
PS: IN CASE YOU'VE FORGOTTEN, IT'S STILL ILLEGAL