graveyard spiral 

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.

graveyard spiral by Gun Arvidssen October 12, 2008

downward spiral of shame 

the self-humiliation and degradation of respect of an awkward individual in the course of a conversation with normal people due to the individual’s lack of communication skills and general social ineptitude

I think Cakes should stop while he is ahead and end his downward spiral of shame before his nerd jokes scare away the last remaining females at the party.

downward spiral of shame by astroguy15 January 3, 2009

The Downward Spiral

A blantantly sexual, profane, beautiful Concept Album by Trent Reznor, aka, Nine Inch Nails. It might be the best CD by Trent Reznor.

The Downward Spiral is most likely my favorite CD by NIN.

The Downward Spiral by funkfunk July 21, 2006

public transit death spiral 

The process by which a chronically deprioritized, underfunded and racialized municipal public transit system originally conceived as a public good for efficient daily mobility needs is further morphed by the political establishment and the capitalist system into an afterthought with an unsustainably funding model, leading to a feedback loop of reduced service, reduced ridership and reduced investment to the detriment of all people.

"Do you remember back in 2020 when the United States Congress failed to appropriate necessary funds during the COVID-19 pandemic and thus enabled a nationwide public transit death spiral from which we're still recovering in 2040?"
"Yeah, that sure was disappointing and avoidable!"

public transit death spiral by Sarcastic&Concerned December 8, 2020

Downward Spiral 

1. When somebody goes into a downward state of depression and (maybe) finds their way back up.

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.

Downward Spiral by Phantom The Unknown September 29, 2012

Horny eagle death spiral 

Sam o nella's way of describing what happens when something quickly deteriorates in value or quantity.

Sam o nella: "It dawned on people that these pieces of paper wouldn't be useful in a pile of wet tea and smoldering patriots, causing their value to do one of those horny eagle death spirals"

Horny eagle death spiral by quanferv April 18, 2021

shame spiral 

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!

shame spiral by Throckmorton March 10, 2008