"All downhill from here"

[Syringer]

Having an argument here, which is it?

 

[clamum]

Worse.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

going to get worse, unless you are on skis or a bicycle

 

[meltdown75]

w

 

[FeuerFrei]

Easier.
i.e. the hard part is now over

In another context, it would mean "worse". For instance ... "that house has really gone downhill since the McGraws moved out."

But, used exactly as the topic says - easier.

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

Better... It's all down hill from here means cruise control

 

[alphatarget1]

Easier... think of mountain biking up a mountain and being able to say "it's all downhill from here"

 

[Homerboy]

I retract
entirely based on context
however even IN context it can be confusing.

 

[gorcorps]

I've always though it meant worse, but thinking about it in general going downhill IS physically easier... so it can just as easily go that way too.

 

[Goosemaster]

Downward trend vs lack of resistance (making things easier)

Literal vs figurative interpretation.

Correct usage of English in everyday language is a waste of time if people don't care

 

[KeithTalent]

Depends on context.

KT

 

[Savij]

It depends on the context.

 

[BlackTigers]

I've heard it used both ways...

And it makes sense both ways, depending on the context. It could be "worse" in a snowballing type of effect, as stuff piles up and the problems get bigger. But "easier" in the sense that you can get down a hill faster and smoother than struggling up it.

Sooo context dependent?

 

[spidey07]

It means you're going downhill (easier) or to the bottom (worse). It depends on the context.

So in your context of better or worse, it means worse. If the context was easier or harder it means easier.

 

[Arcadio]

Downhill means that things are going to get worse. When you achieve your goal, or when everything is going well, you are at the top. If things start to go bad, then it's all downhill from there.

 

[bobsmith1492]

Hm, I said harder but now that I think about it it could go either way... down as in easier, as in riding a bike, or down as in "things are going downhill fast..." Tough call!

 

[GuitarDaddy]

70% of ATOT doesn't understand this phrase?

Easier/better is correct

 

[krunchykrome]

sh!t is going to get ugly

 

[Homerboy]

*also depends on inflection when said.

 

[Homerboy]

"this thread is going downhill"

 

[sdifox]

Depends on context. Goes both ways depending on use.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
70% of ATOT doesn't understand this phrase?

Easier/better is correct

No, you don't understand that the context matters. For 70%, the first thing they thought of was worse.

 

[JoeFahey]

I first thought this was a no brainer, because it almost always means it's going to get easier.

eg: You've biked the hardest uphill part of the race and it's all downhill.
It's all smooth sailing from now on.

But actually now that I think about it, although it usually means something positive, it depends on the context. If you are talking about a business's future, it could be interpreted as meaning that the success of the business is crumpling; going down. But in the same sense it could also mean it's easy for the business from now on.

It's all about the context. However it could be misinterpreted by those unfamiliar with the phrase, so if you are trying to be tactful, avoid it.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
"this thread is going downhill"

Yep, our efforts are certainly nothing but uphill from here.

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: spidey07
It means you're going downhill (easier) or to the bottom (worse). It depends on the context.

So in your context of better or worse, it means worse. If the context was easier or harder it means easier.

I agree. I usually use it in the context of better/worse so that's what I first thought of, but it could go either way.