急转直下

急轉直下
jízhuǎnzhíxià
idiom #24,580

Meanings

  1. 1 to take a sharp turn for the worse
  2. 2 to deteriorate rapidly
  3. 3 to nosedive (of a situation)

Examples

Tánpàn xíngshì jí zhuǎn zhí xià, shuāngfāng xiàn rù jiāngjú.
The negotiations took a sharp turn for the worse and both sides fell into a stalemate.
Bìngrén de bìngqíng jí zhuǎn zhí xià, yīshēng jǐnjí shījiù.
The patient's condition deteriorated rapidly and doctors rushed to provide emergency treatment.

Tips

memory
Literally: turn sharply and go straight down. Imagine a car swerving off a cliff — no gradual decline, just an abrupt plunge. Used for situations (health, politics, negotiations) that suddenly worsen.

Stroke Order

zhuǎn
zhí
xià