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Glite Dictionary
to go to seed

to go to seed

2 7.3
To become untidy and overgrown and lose quality
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : decaer
  • So, he lets the place go to seed until they pay up.
  • flowers go to seed
  • let them go to seed
  • plants go to seed

However, much like spinach, it goes to seed so quickly.

Examples

  • Tragically, America's front yard has gone to seed; its dilapidation over a generation has been chronicled with increasing regularity in the press, including The Times.

    Blog text (22)

  • At least she's been allowed to go to seed.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Place is going to seed.

    Mudhoney (1965)

  • -Don't let her stay here and go to seed.

    Alice in Wonderland (1951)

  • The gardens go to seed; the old people don't have the energy.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • He let his appearance go to seed (he was usually a natty dresser), and nobody wanted to be around him because when a small, rodent-faced man like Mouse got ugly, he was no company even for the harshest man.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • He could see that from the dilapidated state of the house, yard gone to seed, windows broken, and paint that had been robin's egg blue a decade ago, now weathered to the dingy shade of mop water.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • After years of neglect, the once beautiful park has gone to seed, with weeds taking over every corner.

  • Since the manager retired, the office has really gone to seed, with papers piling up and no one keeping things organized.

  • If you don't take care of your garden, it will quickly go to seed, making it difficult to restore its former beauty.

Synonyms

to deteriorate
vsto go to seed
146 5.9

To get worse in quality, condition, or value

focuses on neglect and overgrowth causing worse appearance over time
to ruin
vsto go to seed
55 3.5

Fall into decay and stop being useful

suggests slower neglected decline and overgrowth rather than full destruction
to decay
vsto go to seed
37 4.4

To slowly fall into ruin because of age or neglect

emphasizes visible neglect and overgrowth rather than slow natural change
to rot away
vsto go to seed
16 4.2

To slowly become weaker or fall apart because it is not cared for

describes neglect and overgrowth affecting looks rather than literal breakdown
to turn to dust
vsto go to seed
7 6.6

To be completely ruined and lose all value

means neglected decline and overgrowth rather than total annihilation
to go to the dogs
vsto go to seed
  • Informal
6 6.1

To become much worse or ruined

refers to physical neglect and overgrowth rather than sharp social decline
to begin to crumble
vsto go to seed
4 4.0

Start to break into pieces or stop working well

refers to ongoing neglect and overgrowth rather than only the first stage
to go to pot
vsto go to seed
  • Informal
3 8.2

To become ruined or not cared for

stresses neglect and overgrowth rather than general poor condition

Antonyms

to maintain
225 3.1

Keep something in good condition by repairing and protecting it

to cultivate
82 4.1

To help a skill, interest or relationship grow

How Neglected

to go to pot
  • Informal
3 8.2
to go to seed
  • Informal
2 7.3

Surface Forms

go to seed infinitive
going to seed present participle
goes to seed third person singular
went to seed past
gone to seed past participle

Morphology

go + to + seed

The phrase combines 'go' (become) with 'seed' using a horticultural metaphor: plants 'go to seed' when they stop being tended and begin producing seed, which logically links to decline. However, the figurative sense 'become neglected or deteriorate' depends on cultural/biological knowledge and is not immediately predictable for a B1 learner who only knows the literal words.

Etymology

Go to seed may come from gardens: when plants are left alone they stop making flowers and start making seed, so the beds look untidy and the plants seem weak. So, to go to seed now means 'to become neglected' or fall into poor condition.