Aviation slang for a situation in which a pilot unwittingly enters a gentle banking turn, ultimately ending up as a spiral dive to the floor. This typically happens to incompetent or inexperienced pilots unable to visually assess the aircraft’s position relative to the horizon. The strong impression of descent leads some pilots to disregard the flight instruments (which will show exactly what’s going on) and try to correct the situation by pulling up, which instead tightens the turn and often leads to certain death. This is extrapolated to situations where a person will stubbornly press on with something extremely stupid despite solid, objective reasons not to.
Man, I can’t believe you’re still seeing Amanda, she’s done your brother, your dad and me. Get outta your graveyard spiral and dump the bitch, I don’t want you catching my herpes.
Hey, did you hear what Bob did when he got the results of his liver function test? He was so freaked that he went straight into a graveyard spiral with a bottle of Jim Beam.
Hey, did you hear what Bob did when he got the results of his liver function test? He was so freaked that he went straight into a graveyard spiral with a bottle of Jim Beam.
by Gun Arvidssen August 18, 2008
A blantantly sexual, profane, beautiful Concept Album by Trent Reznor, aka, Nine Inch Nails. It might be the best CD by Trent Reznor.
by funkfunk July 21, 2006
by Humanoid143 February 13, 2009
1. When somebody goes into a downward state of depression and (maybe) finds their way back up.
2. A Nine Inch Nails album.
2. A Nine Inch Nails album.
1. Ohh, man, i feel like shit today. I think i'm on the downward spiral.
2. I am a big man, yes I am, and i've got a big gun. Got me a big ol' dick and i, i like to have fun.
2. I am a big man, yes I am, and i've got a big gun. Got me a big ol' dick and i, i like to have fun.
by Phantom The Unknown April 24, 2012
(n.) a staircase that spirals round, with turning steps.
Idiom to describe a situation where the next step is not always clear, and a large amount of training in doing this is required.
Idiom to describe a situation where the next step is not always clear, and a large amount of training in doing this is required.
by Kung-Fu Jesus May 5, 2004
A phenomenon that occurs when one is not only ashamed of something, but *ashamed* that one is ashamed, resulting in an endless decrease in self-confidence, and an exponential increase in self-loathing.
Not only do I hate that I'm gay, but I hate that I hate that I'm gay! I'm caught in a fucking shame spiral!
by Throckmorton March 10, 2008
The exact opposite of "going viral." Occurs in a manner akin to Sisyphus attempting to push a boulder up a hill only to have it roll down again and again, endlessly. Use "going spiral" to describe endless striving that yields no results in spite of one's best efforts.
Even my best stories will never go viral. I'm doomed to a life of "going spiral," always circling the drain.
by Spiral-Sisyphus November 13, 2020