go belly-up en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
From the tendency of fish to float upside down when they die.
Meanings
- (informal) To die.
-
(informal) To fail or fold; especially, to be closed or shut down, or go out of business.
I was sorry to hear that my favorite little restaurant went belly-up.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| goes belly-up | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| went belly-up | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| gone belly-up | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| going belly-up | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |