1.
decline, on the wane, going downhill
A state of declining fortune, popularity, or power. Used to describe a person, business, or entity that has passed their peak and is losing status or relevance.
あの会社は落ち目だ。
That company is on the decline.
落ち目の芸能人にはテレビの仕事が来なくなる。
TV work stops coming for celebrities who are past their prime.
人気が落ち目になると、周りの人間も離れていく。
When your popularity goes into decline, the people around you drift away too.
USAGE:
An informal, slightly blunt word. Carries a negative connotation and is not used in formal speech. Often used about public figures, businesses, or trends that have lost momentum. Can sound harsh when used about a person directly.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- ～は落ち目だ: ~ is on the decline
- 落ち目の～: declining ~ (落ち目の政治家)
- 落ち目になる: to go into decline
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 衰退: decline, decay — more formal, used for larger entities like nations, industries
- 下り坂: going downhill — similar informal usage, can also be literal