A sorry sight
Shakespearian.
Back to square one
Britain, early 20th century.
Go belly (or tits) up
Britain, 20th century. The allusion is to fish floating dead in the water.
Lose your touch
Britain, late 19th century.
Sad ass
USA, mid-20th century.
The author of your own misfortune
The wheels have come off
Worse for wear
1. Britain, 16th century. 2. Britain 20th century.
Entry 1
A sorry sight
Meaning 1. Something sadly neglected. 2. A person or thing of untidy appearance.
Usage Widely used.
Example
- 1. These Georgian townhouses were beautiful when they were built, but they make a sorry sight now they’ve been left unoccupied and vandalised. 2. Since Jim hit the bottle after Joan left him he’s not been taking care of himself. He looked a sorry sight today just dressed in old clothes and slippers.
Entry 2
Back to square one
Meaning Back to the beginning.
Usage In the UK, but less so than a few years ago.
Example
- He had nearly climbed the cliff before he slipped off. Now it's back to square one.
Entry 3
Go belly (or tits) up
Meaning Become badly and permanently inoperative.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- The company has gone belly up - they had millions in debts and their only customer went elsewhere.
Entry 4
Lose your touch
Meaning Lose an ability that you used to possess.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Henry used to be sure to hit any number on the dartboard. Since his back operation he couldn't hit a barn door - he's really lost his touch.
Entry 5
Sad ass
Meaning A reference to an inept or undesirable person or thing.
Usage Mainly USA.
Example
- Since the coal mines and steelworks have closed many places in the Rust Belt have become real sad-ass towns.
Entry 6
The author of your own misfortune
Meaning Be to blame for one's own problems.
Usage Worldwide, but rather old-fashioned.
Example
- Tommy just took off across the moors with no gear and no phone. He ended up in hospital but no one is too sorry for him - he was the author of his own misfortune.
Entry 7
The wheels have come off
Meaning Said when a previously promising enterprise goes irretrievably wrong.
Example
- It was pretty easy to get a loan in 2007, but the wheels came off the world banking system when they found out they had loaned out far too much.
Entry 8
Worse for wear
Meaning Either 1. Shabby and worn out, or 2. Drunk.
Usage Both forms used Worldwide, although 2 is more common in Britain than elsewhere.
Example
- 1. This winter coat is a few years old now and is starting to look a bit worse for wear. 2. I know it's Jack's leaving do and he wants to stay until the end but, after all those tequia slammers, he's begining to look a little worse for wear.