# "Gone pear-shaped"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gone-pear-shaped/263533>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 7, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gone-pear-shaped/263533 "2004-09-07T20:37:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![citrus\_x\_paradisi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@citrus\_x\_paradisi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/citrus_x_paradisi)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gone-pear-shaped/263533/1 "2004-09-07T20:37:12Z")

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At first, I thought this term was made to apply to an undesirable body type, but I’ve heard it used by British English speakers a few times recently. As I understand it, the phrase is the more dignified equivalent of “gone to shit,” or the like.

Might anyone correct my interpretation, or enlighten me as to its origin?

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**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gone-pear-shaped/263533/2 "2004-09-07T21:01:53Z")

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[Here’s one explanation](http://experts.about.com/q/1474/3659951.htm)

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**Author:** ![igloorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@igloorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/igloorex)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gone-pear-shaped/263533/3 "2004-09-08T00:15:58Z")

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Interesting link.

I had always interpreted the phrase to mean “started out just fine, but THEN went to shit.”

Accordingly, I always assumed it refered indelicately to a young “hourglass” shaped woman as she aged, gained weight and, er, grew a huge bottom.

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**Author:** ![citrus\_x\_paradisi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@citrus\_x\_paradisi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/citrus_x_paradisi)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gone-pear-shaped/263533/4 "2004-09-08T02:36:47Z")

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I didn’t realize it, but there’s an uncanny similarity between this thread and the “physical types in England” one. 😃