Meaning of go to the bow-wows | Babel Free

Definitions

To go to the dogs, to decline or deteriorate.

dated, idiomatic, informal

Examples

“1896, Arthur G. Burgoyne, “Timon of Athens” in Shakespeare Up to Date, and Other Latter-Day Lyrics, Pittsburg: T. W. Nevin, p. 16, With lavish hand his cash he spent, And with lightning speed to the bow-wows went And into the gutter fell.”

“1912, James Oneal, Militant Socialism, Saint Louis: The National RipSaw Publishing Co., p. 28, The robber barons of the Middle Ages were perfectly sure that civilization would go to the bow-wows if they were interfered with.”

“His father died a couple of years ago—he was a Writer to the Signet in Edinburgh—and I fancy Robert has rather gone to the bow-wows since then. Got among a cheerful crowd down there, don't you know, and wasted his substance somewhat.”

CEFR level