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to go down in the world
01
to experience a fall in social or financial status
Disapproving
Idiom
What is the origin of the idiom "go down in the world" and when to use it?
The idiom "go down in the world" is believed to have originated in Britain in the 19th century, and may have originally referred to a person who had fallen from a position of wealth or prominence due to financial difficulties or other setbacks. The phrase is often used to describe a person who has experienced a significant decline in their social or economic status.
Example
The family's financial troubles have caused them to come down in the world, and they're selling their assets to survive.
She has come down in the world since her divorce, losing her social status and many of her friends.
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