Go belly up
verb phrase
To fail completely, especially to go out of business.
The restaurant went belly up after a few months because no one visited.
Often appears as...
- company went belly up
- business went belly up
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb phrase
To die, typically when a fish or other aquatic creature dies and floats to the surface of the water, belly upwards.
After the pollution incident in the lake, many fish went belly up.
Often appears as...
- fish went belly up
- frog went belly up
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb phrase
To fail completely, especially to go out of business.
The restaurant went belly up after a few months because no one visited.
Often appears as...
- company went belly up
- business went belly up
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb phrase
To die, typically when a fish or other aquatic creature dies and floats to the surface of the water, belly upwards.
After the pollution incident in the lake, many fish went belly up.
Often appears as...
- fish went belly up
- frog went belly up
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Financial Ruin
Usually describes a business or venture that ends in failure, particularly financial.
Their startup went belly up after investors pulled out.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorical Use
Not always literal, often used to express the end of something.
My diet went belly up over the holidays.
Pro Tip 3/3Colloquial Tone
It's informal and best used in casual conversations or writing.
Since the scandal, the senator's career went belly up.
Pro Tip 1/3Financial Ruin
Usually describes a business or venture that ends in failure, particularly financial.
Their startup went belly up after investors pulled out.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorical Use
Not always literal, often used to express the end of something.
My diet went belly up over the holidays.
Pro Tip 3/3Colloquial Tone
It's informal and best used in casual conversations or writing.
Since the scandal, the senator's career went belly up.
Pro Tip 1/3Financial Ruin
Usually describes a business or venture that ends in failure, particularly financial.
Their startup went belly up after investors pulled out.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorical Use
Not always literal, often used to express the end of something.
My diet went belly up over the holidays.
Pro Tip 3/3Colloquial Tone
It's informal and best used in casual conversations or writing.
Since the scandal, the senator's career went belly up.
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