going into a spiral

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   Beginning to get worse and worse in a repeating, out-of-control way.

   Grammar: Used after a subject and a form of 'be' or 'go': 'The situation is going into a spiral.' It describes a process, not a single event.

   Patterns

   • something is going into a spiral
   • go into a downward spiral
   • going into a spiral of something

   After the bad news, his mood started going into a spiral and he couldn't sleep.

   The company is going into a spiral of falling sales and rising costs.

   Once the rumors began, the story went into a spiral that no one could stop.

2. 2phraseidiom

   Entering a state where thoughts or feelings repeat and get more intense, often negative.

   Grammar: Often used about people's minds or emotions: 'She's going into a spiral of worry.' The phrase is usually continuous or followed by 'of'.

   Patterns

   • going into a spiral of worry
   • someone's mind is going into a spiral
   • spiral into something

   Every time she checks the news, she feels herself going into a spiral of anxiety.

   He was going into a spiral of self-doubt after the rejection.

Common combinations

go into a downward spiral

Without help, the business will go into a downward spiral.

spiral out of control

The argument spiraled out of control within minutes.

a spiral of debt

Many families fall into a spiral of debt after losing a job.

in a spiral

She was caught in a spiral of negative thoughts.

Synonyms and how they differ

deteriorating

This simply means getting worse, but does not suggest the repeating, self-feeding pattern that 'spiral' does.

escalating

This means increasing in intensity, often used for conflicts, while 'going into a spiral' emphasizes a loss of control and repetition.

Opposites

Word family

spiral noun

A curve that winds around a center; also a situation that keeps getting worse.

spiral verb

To move in a spiral; to get worse quickly and uncontrollably.

Commonly confused: going into a spiral or going around in circles?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “going into a spiral”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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