burton

burton — noun

1. used in the expression 'go/gone for a burton' to say that something has been spo

1.nounC2
Definition

used in the expression 'go/gone for a burton' to say that something has been spoiled, lost, or suddenly put beyond use.

Example

Our beach picnic has gone for a burton in this sudden rain.

be gone for a burton for ruined plans

The printer went for a burton an hour before the school play.

go for a burton for broken equipment

Common collocations
  • go for a burton
  • gone for a burton
  • the plan has gone for a burton
  • the money went for a burton
Synonyms
  • ruined

    a broad everyday word for something spoiled or no longer usable.

  • lost

    focuses more on something disappearing than on physical damage.

  • wrecked

    stronger and usually used for heavy physical damage.

  • gone

    an informal general alternative, without the old-fashioned British flavour.

Antonyms
  • intact

    still whole and not damaged.

  • saved

    still able to be kept or made to work.

Grammar Patterns

go for a burton

be gone for a burton

Usage Note

Almost always appears after 'go', 'gone', or 'be', rather than as a normal standalone noun. Common for failed plans, broken things, missing money, or anything that suddenly becomes useless, and it now sounds old-fashioned in British informal speech.

Common Mistakes

My phone is burton.
My phone has gone for a burton.
the word normally sits inside the fixed phrase, not after 'be' alone.
Idioms

gone for a burton

idiom

used to say that a person, thing, or plan has disappeared, been wrecked, or cannot continue.

After the power cut, the bakery's morning orders had gone for a burton.

One flat tyre and our trip to the lake was gone for a burton.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Gone for a burton' is a marked British informal expression. It overlaps with 'gone', 'lost', 'ruined', and 'wrecked', but each alternative has a different feel. 'Gone' is the loosest everyday choice and can simply mean not there anymore. 'Lost' stresses that something cannot be found, so it does not always suggest damage. 'Ruined' focuses on something being spoiled and no longer useful. 'Wrecked' is stronger and usually points to heavy physical damage. 'Gone for a burton' often sounds humorous or old-fashioned, and speakers use it for plans, money, files, or equipment that are suddenly finished. You might say 'The picnic's gone for a burton' after rain, but 'The car is wrecked' after a crash.

burton ↗gone ↗lost ↗ruinedwrecked

Common collocations

Phrases

Etymology

English

This is a British slang expression that appeared during the Second World War, especially in Royal Air Force speech. The best-known form was 'gone for a Burton', first said of airmen who did not return and later used for anything missing, broken, or finished. Its exact source is uncertain, but dictionaries often connect it with Burton ale or Burton-upon-Trent in England.