tailspin
tailspin · tailspins · tailspun / tailspinned · tailspinning
Of an aircraft: to go into a rapid, uncontrollable descent in a steep spiralOf an aircraft: to go into a rapid, uncontrollable descent in a steep spiral.
US/tˈeɪlspˌɪn/
» The shenanigans on Wall Street have sent the economy into a tailspin.
Die Machenschaften an der Wall Street haben die Wirtschaft in Panik versetzt. — starrynight
darinmex · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
2 sensesOf an aircraft: to go into a rapid, uncontrollable descent in a steep spiral.
(figuratively)To go into a sharp, sustained, often uncontrollable descent or decline.
Examples
1 sentencesThe shenanigans on Wall Street have sent the economy into a tailspin.
deDie Machenschaften an der Wall Street haben die Wirtschaft in Panik versetzt. — starrynight
Translations
2 languagesOrigin
From tail + spin.From tail + spin.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
tailspins, tailspinning, tailspun, tailspun| Base form | tailspin · to tailspin |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | tailspins |
| Present participle | tailspinning |
| Past simple | tailspun / tailspinned |
| Past participle | tailspun / tailspinned |
irregular · Lesson
Word family
2 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, irregular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle