Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

go to the bow-wows

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.49 in modern English

Syllables: go -to the bow--wows
IPA

29

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To go to the dogs, to decline or deteriorate.

Dated; Informal

Example Sentences

"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."

Usage

Inflected Forms

goes to the bow-wows (present, singular) going to the bow-wows (participle, present) went to the bow-wows (past) gone to the bow-wows (participle, past)

Questions

What does go to the bow-wows mean?: To go to the dogs, to decline or deteriorate.

How to pronounce go to the bow-wows

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