go Pete Tong
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To go wrong.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
But when Bobby got busted, it all went Pete Tong for him.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “go Pete Tong” mean?
To go wrong.
Is “go Pete Tong” formal or informal?
go Pete Tong is generally slang.