go through the roof
/ɡoʊ θruː ðə ruːf/
Meaning
This idiom means to rise to a very high level, usually suddenly and rapidly. In business, it is most commonly used to describe prices, costs, sales, or inflation skyrocketing. Informally, it can also describe a person suddenly becoming extremely angry, though the financial/numerical meaning is highly prevalent in business settings.
Examples
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Ever since the supply chain issues started, shipping costs have gone through the roof.
Ever since the supply chain issues started, shipping costs have gone through the roof.
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Our sales went through the roof after the influencer posted about our product.
Our sales went through the roof after the influencer posted about our product.
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If energy prices continue to go through the roof, we will have to cut our operating expenses.
If energy prices continue to go through the roof, we will have to cut our operating expenses.
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Property values in this tech hub have gone through the roof over the last decade.
Property values in this tech hub have gone through the roof over the last decade.
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The boss's temper went through the roof when he found out about the lost contract.
The boss's temper went through the roof when he found out about the lost contract.
Common Mistakes
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✗ The price of oil went up through the roof.
✓ The price of oil went through the roof.
The verb is simply 'go', not 'go up', because 'through the roof' already implies an upward movement.
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✗ Our profits went through the ceiling this quarter.
✓ Our profits went through the roof this quarter.
While 'ceiling' is sometimes used in other contexts (like 'glass ceiling' or 'price ceiling'), the idiom for skyrocketing values is strictly 'go through the roof'.
Related Expressions
Practice
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With inflation so high, the cost of raw materials has ___.
💡 risen extremely rapidly
Show answer
gone through the roof
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If we launch this marketing campaign, we expect demand to ___.
💡 skyrocket or reach very high levels
Show answer
go through the roof