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nosedive

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go into a nosedive

 and take a nosedive 

1. Lit. [for an airplane] suddenly to dive toward the ground, nose first. It was a bad day for flying, and I was afraid we'd go into a nosedive. The small plane took a nosedive. The pilot was able to bring it out at the last minute, so the plane didn't crash.

2. . Fig. [for someone] to fall to the ground face first. She took a nosedive and injured her face.

3. . Fig. to go into a rapid emotional or financial decline, or a decline in health. Our profits took a nosedive last year. After he broke his hip, Mr. Brown's health went into a nosedive, and he never recovered.

See also: nosedive

nosedive

n. a great drop; a great decline. (see also take a nosedive.) This year our profits have taken a nosedive.

take a nosedive

tv. to collapse; to fail. The market took a nosedive again today.

See also: nosedive, take