go to the bow-wows

Language: en

Meaning: (dated,idiomatic,informal)Togo to the dogs, todeclineordeteriorate.1896, Arthur G. Burgoyne, “Timon of Athens” inShakespeare Up to Date, and Other Latter-Day Lyrics, Pittsburg: T. W. Nevin, p. 16,[1]With lavish hand his cash he spent,And with lightning speedto the bow-wows wentAnd into the gutter fell.1912,James Oneal,Militant Socialism, Saint Louis: The National RipSaw Publishing Co., p. 28,[2]The robber barons of the Middle Ages were perfectly sure that civilization wouldgo to the bow-wowsif they were interfered with.1928,Dorothy L. Sayers, “The Piscatorial Farce of the Stolen Stomach”, inA Treasury of Sayers Stories‎[3], London: Victor Gollancz, published1961, page288:His father died a couple of years ago—he was a Writer to the Signet in Edinburgh—and I fancy Robert has rathergone to the bow-wowssince then. Got among a cheerful crowd down there, don't you know, and wasted his substance somewhat.

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