tailspin

[teyl-spin] /ˈteɪlˌspɪn/

noun, Also, tail spin

spin (def 21).

a sudden and helpless collapse into failure, confusion, or the like.

verb (used without object), tailspinned, tailspinning.

to take or experience a sudden and dramatic downturn:

After the mill closes, the local economy may tailspin.

Origin

1910-15; tail¹ + spin

Examples from the web for tailspin

Despite the huge increase in fishing effort, the overall catch went into a tailspin.
It did spectacularly well for a number of years, then went into a tailspin.
Be careful not to put off a long overdue meeting as it could cause someone to go into an emotional tailspin.
The economy again went into a tailspin and the bank decided to retreat to zero six months later.
As a result, the movie industry was in a tailspin and hemorrhaging money.
That's expected after enduring a rapid tailspin down the standings after being atop the league a few weeks ago.
Companies incurred huge layoffs, unemployment skyrocketed, wages plummeted and the economy went into a tailspin.
All of this will create a tailspin from which it will be difficult to recover.
On slick trails, moderate the throttle and use the clutch to gain maximum traction with minimum tailspin.
Since that was the main source of revenue for the firm, it sent the company in a tailspin.

British Dictionary definitions for tailspin

/ˈteɪlˌspɪn/

noun

(aeronautics) another name for spin (sense 16)

(informal) a state of confusion or panic

Word Origin and History for tailspin

"downward spiraling dive of an aircraft," 1916, from tail (n.1) + spin (n.). Figurative sense of "state of loss of control" is from 1928.

Slang definitions & phrases for tailspin

Related Terms

in a tailspin

Idioms and Phrases with tailspin