what goes up must come down

proverb

All trends will end; a rise (in the stock market, in a person's political or social influence, etc.) will be followed by a fall.

Meanings

proverb
  1. figurativelyAll trends will end; a rise (in the stock market, in a person's political or social influence, etc.) will be followed by a fall.
  2. figurativelySubstance induced euphoria is followed by withdrawal (often used to describe stimulants though same applies to many other drugs).

Translations

Chinese 盛者必衰
  • 盛者必衰 (shèngzhěbìshuāi)Translations
Japanese 盛(じょう)者(しゃ)必(ひっ)衰
  • 盛(じょう)者(しゃ)必(ひっ)衰 (jōshahissui)Translations
Polish fortuna kołem się toczy, raz na wozie, raz pod wozem
  • fortuna kołem się toczyTranslations
  • raz na wozie, raz pod wozemTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

what goes up must come down. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what%20goes%20up%20must%20come%20down

MLA

“what goes up must come down.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what%20goes%20up%20must%20come%20down. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “what goes up must come down,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what%20goes%20up%20must%20come%20down.

Source: what goes up must come down on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.