Lose emotional control, collapse, panic. For example, If she fails the bar exam again, she's sure to go into a tailspin. This expression alludes to the downward movement of an airplane out of control, in which the tail describes a spiral. [Early 1900s]
go into a tailspin
| Idioms: go into a tailspin |
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 | spin (Idiom) |
| Hollywood After Dark (1968 Drama Film) |
| It's All Gone Pete Tong (2004 Comedy Drama Film) |
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 | Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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- Are you going to go out with her?
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Mentioned in
- spin (Idiom)
- Hollywood After Dark (1968 Drama Film)
- It's All Gone Pete Tong (2004 Comedy Drama Film)
- 1000 Rosen (1994 Drama Film)
- Symphony No. 8 in C minor, Op. 65 (Stalingrad) (Classical Work)
- HWL Pegaz
- Julian Jackson
- Typhoon Emma (1956)
- Michael Vaughn
- Second City Television
