Person 1: “This used to be one of my favorite restaurants. It was one of the fanciest places in town!“Person 2: “Well, it looks like the restaurant is struggling. ”Person 1: “You’re right. It’s looking pretty shabby. This place has gone to the dogs. "
For instance, you might say, “I used to take my kids to that park, but since the city stopped maintaining it, it’s gone to the dogs. "
“The new leadership has really let the country go to the dogs. " “The economy went to the dogs after so many people were laid off. " “Without enough doctors, the healthcare system has gone to the dogs. "
Some people argue that the phrase came from China where outcasts had to compete with the dogs for scraps of food. [5] X Research source
