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Glite Dictionary
to the bottom falls out of

to the bottom falls out of

1 8.2
Suddenly become much worse or fail after being stable
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : se desploma
  • Due to the economic downturn, the bottom fell out of several industries, resulting in massive layoffs.
  • the bottom fell out of the market
  • the bottom fell out of the economy
  • the bottom fell out of real estate

So the the bottom fell out of the market when I was producing large scale live events.

Examples

  • In mid-September 2008, Lehman Bros. collapsed and the bottom fell out of the financial system.

    Blog text (28)

  • So the the bottom fell out of the market when I was producing large scale live events.

    Film Courage

  • But on this day in 1929, the bottom fell out of the market.

    Blog text (20)

  • Last year when they lost a tanker, the bottom fell out of their stock.

    Leviathan (1989)

  • When the bottom fell out of Bennett's career, it was with shattering suddenness.

    Academic text (2011)

  • In 2008, the bottom fell out of the housing market, leaving many homeowners in severe debt.

  • After the scandal broke, the bottom fell out of the company's stock price, causing widespread panic.

Synonyms

to fall in
vsto the bottom falls out of
30 4.4

To collapse inward, as a roof or organization breaking down

is an abrupt complete failure after stability, not only inward collapse
to tumble
vsto the bottom falls out of
28 4.4

To fall suddenly in price or value

is a sudden collapse that follows stability rather than only a loss
to hit rock bottom
vsto the bottom falls out of
  • Informal
22 4.8

To reach the lowest point in your life before you begin to get better

is a sudden collapse after stability rather than a low point after long decline
to crumple
vsto the bottom falls out of
22 3.9

Suddenly fall down because something is weak or hit hard

is sudden failure after stability, not merely physical collapse from force
to cave in
vsto the bottom falls out of
22 3.7

Suddenly fall inward because its sides or top become weak, for example a tunnel

is a sudden failure following stability rather than collapsing from pressure alone
to hit bottom
vsto the bottom falls out of
21 5.1

Reach the lowest point after a time of trouble

is a sudden complete failure after stability, not the endpoint of decline
to spiral out of control
vsto the bottom falls out of
  • Informal
17 6.1

To get worse very quickly and become hard to control

is a sudden total failure after stability, not a worsening process
all hell broke loose
vsto the bottom falls out of
  • Informal
16 8.1

A sudden time of chaos and confusion that spreads quickly

is a sudden complete failure after stability rather than mere chaos
to come undone
vsto the bottom falls out of
  • Informal
9 5.3

To begin to fail, fall apart, or lose control

is a sudden total failure after stability rather than gradual unraveling
to come apart at the seams
vsto the bottom falls out of
  • Informal
5 7.2

To fall apart or stop working properly after being stable

is a sudden total failure rather than a slow beginning of breakdown
to begin to crumble
vsto the bottom falls out of
4 4.0

Start to break into pieces or stop working well

is a sudden complete failure, not simply the start of decay
to hit the skids
vsto the bottom falls out of
  • Informal
3 8.4

Start to fail after a time of success

is a sudden total failure following stability rather than gradual decline
to sink like a stone
vsto the bottom falls out of
  • Informal
2 6.7

Fall or fail very quickly and completely

is a sudden complete failure often after a stable period
to hit the rocks
vsto the bottom falls out of
  • Informal
1 7.4

Start having serious problems that lead to failure

is a sudden complete collapse after stability rather than gradual troubles
to hit a breaking point
vsto the bottom falls out of
1 6.3

To reach a stage when a person cannot continue and must make a big change

is a sudden collapse after stability, not merely reaching personal limits
the wheels fell off
vsto the bottom falls out of
  • Informal
9.8

A situation that suddenly goes wrong after working well

is a sudden complete failure following a period of stability
to go kablooie
vsto the bottom falls out of
  • Slang
9.9

To suddenly break or stop working in a dramatic way

is a sudden collapse that follows a prior stable period
to sink faster than the Titanic
vsto the bottom falls out of
  • Informal
9.2

To fail very quickly and completely with no chance to get better

describes sudden collapse after stability rather than only rapid disaster
to slide back down like snakes and ladders
vsto the bottom falls out of
  • Informal
8.9

Lose earlier progress quickly and go back to a worse situation

is a sudden complete failure after stability rather than a small reversal
to turn into a shithouse
vsto the bottom falls out of
  • Offensive
9.9

To suddenly become chaotic and very messy

is a sudden total failure following stability rather than mainly messy decline

Antonyms

success
∞ 1.0

Getting what you want after working hard

stability
363 3.1

Being steady and not likely to change

How Severe

to the bottom falls out of
  • Informal
1 8.2
crash
89 5.2
to collapse
579 3.9
to fall apart
155 2.8
to decline
344 3.7
weakening
3.2

Surface Forms

the bottom falls out of infinitive

Morphology

the + bottom + fall + out + of

The components 'bottom' (lowest point) and 'fall(out)' (to decline or drop away) give a clue toward loss or decline, so a learner could infer something about a drop. However, the phrase is a metaphorical idiom meaning a sudden structural collapse or disappearance of stability (e.g., a market), which is not fully predictable from the parts and requires pragmatic/figurative knowledge, so it is only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The idiom the bottom falls out of may come from the image of a box or barrel whose bottom suddenly breaks, so everything inside falls out at once. That sudden loss or collapse is why we now use it to mean 'fail completely' or 'become much worse'.