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British slang
To go wrong; to fail.
Safe to use?
Usually safest with people who already understand the context.
Tone
Casual and context-dependent.
Region
UK
Formality
Informal.
Context Decoder
Check what it means in context, how it sounds and whether it is safe to use.
go pear-shaped means To go wrong; to fail. It is best read as british slang associated with UK.
"go pear-shaped" means To go wrong; to fail. In UK, the nuance may be more specific.
Casual and context-dependent.
Usually safest with people who already understand the context.
Context-dependent
I messed it up; I screwed it up (Levantine).
To fail a test badly.
Something embarrassing or a major fail, like an awkward moment
To fail (an exam/course - common Hinglish).
To fail (an exam or course).
To make a mistake; to fail.
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