head south

head south

1. To escape; to vanish or disappear. (Not necessarily in a southerly direction.) Everyone in the gang headed south when they learned that the police had discovered their hideout.
2. To fall or drop; to depreciate; to lose quality or value. (Especially related to finances or stock exchanges.) The company's stock profile continued heading south for the third day in a row today. I used to be a big player in the stock market, but all my investments have headed south lately.
3. To cease working or functioning; to quit, fail, or fall apart. Talks between the labor union and the construction firm headed south yesterday, so it looks like workers will be on strike again soon. My computer is only a month old, and it's already heading south.
See also: head, south
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

head south

or

go south

INFORMAL
If something heads south or goes south, it becomes less successful or falls to a lower level. At that point, the stock market headed south. Managers were selling shares in the certain knowledge that the company was going south.
See also: head, south
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

head south

deteriorate.
2008 Newsweek Many months ago, McCain remarked, honestly, that he didn't know much about economics. As the economy heads south, he is routinely reminded of his candor.
See also: head, south
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

head ˈnorth/ˈsouth

(business) (about share prices, currencies, etc.) rise/fall in value: The country’s currency headed south for the second day, weakening 1.4%.
See also: head, north, south
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

head South

verb
See go South
See also: head, south
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • head north/south
  • go south
  • pull a Houdini (act)
  • slip away
  • disappear off the face of the earth
  • disappear/vanish off the face of the earth
  • vanish from
  • vanish from (something)
  • gang
  • gang up
References in classic literature
"The thing for you to do is head south for warmer weather--say along the coast.
The Valley of the Moon
However, I was able to employ a very trustworthy man to take charge of the caravan--the same guide, in fact, who had accompanied me on the previous trip into the Sahara--and after writing a long letter to Innes in which I gave him my American address, I saw the expedition head south.
At the Earths Core
So soundly did the kanakas sleep through that long hot day that they did not see the cutter run out through the passage and head south, close-hauled on the southeast trade.
South Sea Tales
1 Turn left, head south along wide track parallel to Derwent Water's shore for half a mile.
Walk of the week; Inside Out Quick guide to turning your free time into fun time
1 Standing on Hawes End Jetty, turn to your left and head south for half a mile along the wide track which runs parallel to the lake shore.
WalkOF THE WEEK; Going out; Making the most of free timeBRANDELHOW PARK, CUMBRIA
Nusrat Mangi Regional Business Head South - C and Mr.
FWBL and SRSO in PARTNERSHIP
Once the days grow shorter and chillier, thousands of American Jews like my aunts and uncles temporarily pull up stakes and head south for a couple of months.
How Florida Became Home to Jewish Snowbirds
Elsdon Arrival time 11:02 Once in the village, the race will turn right and right again onto the C186 and head south to the C186/C187 junction where it will turn left and head southeast towards Harwood and the B6342.
Public Notices
The southbound carriageway of the Tyne Tunnel sees around 2,225 people per hour heading under the river during the morning rush hour of 8am, while some 2,444 people head south at the afternoon jam time, 5pm.
Which are Newcastle and Tyneside's busiest roads? We map the roads with the highest volumes of traffic per hour in the region - and tell you what time to avoid them; We map the roads with the highest volumes of traffic per hour in the region - and tell you what time to avoid them
FROM THE NORTH: Join the B4518 in Llanbrynmair and head south towards Llanidloes.
Maesnant
Vehicles travelling on Ffordd Bleddyn to head south on the A470 should proceed via Ffordd Bleddyn northbound, the A4054 northbound, the Nantgarw Interchange and A470 southbound.
Road closes for bridge repairs
Flying into Munich, then head south heading south into Austria and the Alps for a four-night stay.
Austrian Alpine Christmas Markets
So do you head south to Scilly or north to Shetland, or somewhere in between?
bird NOTES WITH ROBIN SANDHAM
Travel Business Review-March 29, 2011--Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH Moves to Tanger Outlets Hilton Head South Carolina(C)2011] ENPublishing - http://www.enpublishing.co.uk
-Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH Moves to Tanger Outlets Hilton Head South Carolina