go from bad to worse; deteriorate steadily
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to go from bad to worse; to deteriorate steadily; things getting progressively worse
formalOriginally written as 每下愈况, from Zhuangzi (《庄子•知北游》), meaning 'the lower you go, the more severe it gets' (况 meant 'severe'). Now used to describe situations that are deteriorating over time. Often used for health, economic conditions, or organizational performance.
Yóu由
yú于
lián连
nián年
kuī亏
sǔn损
，
gōng公
sī司
de的
cái财
wù务
zhuàng状
kuàng况
měi每
kuàng况
yù愈
xià下
。
Due to consecutive years of losses, the company's financial situation has gone from bad to worse.
Yé爷
ye爷
de的
jiàn健
kāng康
měi每
kuàng况
yù愈
xià下
，
quán全
jiā家
rén人
dōu都
hěn很
dān担
xīn心
。
Grandfather's health has been deteriorating steadily, and the whole family is very worried.
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Rú如
guǒ果
bù不
gǎi改
gé革
，
zhè这
ge个
háng行
yè业
de的
jìng竞
zhēng争
lì力
jiāng将
huì会
měi每
kuàng况
yù愈
xià下
。
If reforms are not carried out, this industry's competitiveness will continue to decline.