Up hill

I tried to go up hill but fell back down. The potential Idiom taken literally literal potential (physics) gravitational potential energy in the context of being on a hill figurative potential (metaphorical) possibility or capability to succeed The word 'potential' shifts between physics terminology (gravitational potential on a hill) and idiomatic usage (potential for success). was there but it went down hill Same word, two meanings literal downhill (directional) moving down the slope of a hill figurative downhill (idiomatic) deteriorating or worsening The phrase works as both literal description of physical movement and idiomatic expression for decline. .