General
pear-shaped
What does pear-shaped mean?
Used in 'go pear-shaped' to mean a plan went badly wrong.
"The trip went pear-shaped when the car broke down."
Origin
British and especially RAF slang from the 20th century, possibly from pilots failing to fly a perfect circle. 'Go pear-shaped' for going wrong is now mainstream.
Frequently asked questions
What does pear-shaped mean in British slang?
When something 'goes pear-shaped' it has gone badly wrong or fallen apart.
Where does 'go pear-shaped' come from?
It's thought to be RAF slang, possibly from a pilot's loop coming out misshapen instead of round.
Is pear-shaped about body shape here?
No — in this slang phrase it has nothing to do with body shape, only with plans going wrong.
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