go belly up

Register · Informal Informal — used in casual, everyday conversation among friends and family. Avoid in formal writing or professional settings. CEFR C1

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Figurative meaning

to fail completely, especially of a business

Why this phrase?

A dead fish floats with its pale belly uppermost; a dying business is pictured as a fish turning over in the water.

Example

“Half the local bookshops went belly up during the pandemic.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

go to the wall Neutral · CEFR C1

collapse or fail completely, particularly as a business or financial venture

break even Neutral · CEFR B2

to reach the point where revenue equals costs — no profit, no loss

laugh all the way to the bank Neutral · CEFR B2

to enjoy a large, easy profit, especially from something others consider unfair or undeserving

war chest Neutral · CEFR B2

money kept in reserve for a future fight, expansion, or acquisition

a rip-off Informal · CEFR B1

Something that is far too expensive for what it is.

ballpark figure Informal · CEFR B1

a rough estimate, not an exact number

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.

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