tits up en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Perhaps derives from an expired animal lying on its back, or the behaviour of aeroplanes' attitude indicators, which in some regional conventions turn upside down when faulty and display an inverted 'W' resembling a pair of breasts.
Meanings
-
(Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, idiomatic, not-comparable, slang, vulgar) Broken; failed; inoperable.
The vast majority go tits up in the first year. Basic economics, even if the people have some training and education in retail.
1987, Nora Roberts, Daring to dream, page 157:But believe me, sunshine, if this show goes tits up, none of us are going to come out smelling of roses."
2007, Gemma Townley, The Hopeless Romantic's Handbook, page 102:
- (Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, idiomatic, not-comparable, slang, vulgar) Dead.
- (not-comparable) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see tits, up.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| tits-up | alternative | lexicographic | |
| titsup | alternative | lexicographic |