go to the bow-wows

Verb

 * 1)  To go to the dogs, to decline or deteriorate.
 * 2) * 1896, Arthur G. Burgoyne, “Timon of Athens” in Shakespeare Up to Date, and Other Latter-Day Lyrics, Pittsburg: T. W. Nevin, p. 16,
 * With lavish hand his cash he spent,
 * And with lightning speed to the bow-wows went
 * And into the gutter fell.
 * 1) * 1912,, Militant Socialism, Saint Louis: The National RipSaw Publishing Co., p. 28,
 * The robber barons of the Middle Ages were perfectly sure that civilization would go to the bow-wows if they were interfered with.

Usage notes
Current from the mid-19th to the early 20th century. Frequent variants are go to the damnation bow-wows and the euphemistic go to the demnition bow-wows.