Example
“Half the local bookshops went belly up during the pandemic.”
Dictionary details
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
go to the wall
CEFR C1collapse or fail completely, particularly as a business or financial venture
Neutral
break even
CEFR B2to reach the point where revenue equals costs — no profit, no loss
Neutral
laugh all the way to the bank
CEFR B2to enjoy a large, easy profit, especially from something others consider unfair or undeserving
Neutral
war chest
CEFR B2money kept in reserve for a future fight, expansion, or acquisition
Neutral
a rip-off
CEFR B1Something that is far too expensive for what it is.
Informal
ballpark figure
CEFR B1a rough estimate, not an exact number
Informal
Source methodology
Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.