go to the bow-wows
To go to the dogs, to decline or deteriorate.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The old house has gone to the bow-wows.”
“Since the new manager took over, the quality of service has really gone to the bow-wows.”
“Observers noted that the once-prosperous neighborhood had gradually gone to the bow-wows due to years of neglect and lack of investment.”
- 01
all dressed up and nowhere to go
Elaborately attired or otherwise fully prepared for an anticipated situation or activity which, nevertheless, fails to occur.
- 02
all systems go
Everything is ready.
- 03
as you go
While one is doing (something); as one progresses.
- 04
boldly go where no man has gone before
To break new ground.
- 05
come and go
To repeatedly appear and disappear; to be transient.
- 06
don't go there
Do not broach that topic.
- 07
easy come, easy go
Easily won and easily lost (usually said when resigned to a loss; something that comes in the same way, goes in the same way)
- 08
enough to go around
There is an adequate amount or supply of something for all of the people present or involved.
Last updated August 10, 2026