all to pot
Meaning
Completely ruined; deteriorated badly; gone to waste.
Origin
From older British usage (19th century) where "go to pot" meant to be ruined or become worthless—like leftovers or scrap tossed into a cooking pot; later generalized to decline/decay.
Notes
Somewhat old-fashioned (esp. BrE). Used for plans, situations, organizations, etc. meaning they’ve badly deteriorated or been ruined; informal tone.
Examples
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After the founder retired, the company went all to pot within a year.
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Our vacation plans went all to pot when the airline canceled our flight.
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If you stop maintaining the house, it’ll go all to pot in no time.
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The neighborhood has gone all to pot since the factory closed down.
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The project went all to pot after they cut the budget and lost two key engineers.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Often appears as "go to pot" (verb phrase). "All to pot" is an elliptical/adverbial use meaning "completely to pot" (e.g., "It’s all gone to pot" / "Everything went all to pot").
Synonyms
- go to pot
- go to ruin
- fall apart
- go downhill
- go to the dogs
Antonyms
- improve
- recover
- pick up
- flourish
- prosper