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Definition tailspin in British English

tailspin noun

[singular] noun
/ˈteɪlˌspɪn/
1

an occasion when a plane falls in the sky with its nose (=front part) downwards and its tail (=end part) spinning in a very wide circle

Example

The plane went into a tailspin.

Synonyms and related words
2

an occasion when something or someone suddenly gets into a very bad state

Example

The news sent the nation's financial markets into a tailspin.

Synonyms and related words
Definition tailspin in British English