急转直下 sudden sharp decline
Explanation
形容形势或情况骤然转变，迅速向下发展。
Describes a situation or trend that suddenly changes and rapidly deteriorates.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，有个名叫李白的诗人，他年轻的时候，才华横溢，名动长安。他的诗歌，如同江河奔流，气势磅礴，一气呵成。然而，在官场沉浮多年之后，他的仕途却急转直下。先是被权臣排挤，失去了朝廷的重用，后又被卷入政治漩涡，饱受折磨。他曾经的辉煌，如今已成为过眼云烟。他的诗歌，也逐渐失去了往日的豪迈，多了几分落寞与悲凉。曾经意气风发的少年，如今成了满头白发，饱经沧桑的老人。他感叹道：人生如戏，世事无常，辉煌之后，往往伴随着急转直下。
In the Tang Dynasty, there was a poet named Li Bai. In his youth, he was incredibly talented and famous in Chang'an. His poems flowed like a rushing river, powerful and magnificent. However, after years of navigating the political arena, his career took a sharp downward turn. He was first ousted by powerful ministers, losing his influential position at court. Later, he was embroiled in political intrigue and suffered greatly. His former glory faded into a distant memory. His poems gradually lost their former boldness and became tinged with melancholy and sadness. The once confident young man was now an old man with white hair and full of life experiences. He sighed: Life is like a play, the world is impermanent. After brilliance, there is often a sudden decline.
Usage
用于形容形势、情况等突然转变，并迅速向下发展。
Used to describe a situation or trend that suddenly changes and rapidly deteriorates.
Examples
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股市行情急转直下，投资者一片恐慌。
gǔshì xíngqíng jí zhuǎn zhí xià, tóuzī zhě yīpiàn kǒnghuāng
The stock market plummeted, and investors panicked.
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他的病情急转直下，情况十分危急。
tā de bìngqíng jí zhuǎn zhí xià, qíngkuàng shífēn wēijí
His condition deteriorated rapidly.
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文章的结尾急转直下，令人意想不到。
wénzhāng de jiéwěi jí zhuǎn zhí xià, lìng rén yìxiǎngbùdào
The end of the article took an unexpected turn.