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James' car or James's car? (British English)

Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

"went tilt"

English answer:

stopped working, went crazy/awry (pinball)

Added to glossary by Robert Donahue (X)
Apr 6, 2005 00:25
19 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term

"went tilt"

English Other Idioms / Maxims / Sayings expression
An excerpt from a speech on arms control:

"Things were progressing smoothly right up until December of 1991 when the Soviet Union fell. After that, everything sort of went tilt."

I've got a rough idea what this means, but if anyone can expound on it a bit I would greatly appreciate it.
Responses
4 +2 stopped working, went crazy/awry (pinball)

Discussion

Non-ProZ.com Apr 6, 2005:
Can Thanks : )
Can Altinbay Apr 6, 2005:
I *am* from the pinball era, and that's exactly where it comes from. So I'm late with the note. I'm busy with a project for a change, OK? :)
Non-ProZ.com Apr 6, 2005:
Michael Aaahh....got it. You don't exactly look like you are from the pinball era either.
Michael Schubert Apr 6, 2005:
At least that's as far as I understand the expression. Maybe someone else will chime in.
Michael Schubert Apr 6, 2005:
That's what I meant: I believe it does originate with pinball. After all, it's quite literal: if the machine tilts, the functions lock and your game is over. So if something "goes tilt" (or simply "tilts"), it breaks down/stops working/goes berserk.
Non-ProZ.com Apr 6, 2005:
Michael I get that part. I could pick that from context and I know that it's from pinball. Alas, I am from the age of Atari so my pinball esperience is limited. So I'm trying to figure out where the expression originated from.

Responses

+2
2 mins
English term (edited): tilt
Selected

stopped working, went crazy/awry (pinball)

The expression comes from pinball machines that stop working if you cause them to tilt.

I'd say in this context it means the negotiations broke down because the government structures were collapsing.
Peer comment(s):
agree Aleksey Khudyakov
3 hrs
agree Saleh Chowdhury, Ph.D.
10 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks"
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