The term 'go to pot' is an idiom that means to decline or deteriorate in quality. The crossword solutions for this term are DECAY (5 letters), SMOKE (5 letters), and ROT (3 letters). DECAY is the process of breaking down or decomposing, while SMOKE is the visible gas that is created when something is burned. ROT is the process of decaying or decomposing due to the action of bacteria or fungi. All three of these words can be used to describe the deterioration of something, which is what the phrase 'go to pot' implies.