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Go belly up Meaning in English

expression

ˈɡoʊ/ /ˈbɛɫi/ /ˈəp
GOH BEL-ee UHP
ɡˈəʊ/ /bˈɛli/ /ˈʌp
gOH BEL-ee UP

Definition

If a company or project goes belly up, it fails completely or becomes bankrupt. The expression can also be used more generally to mean that something stops working or collapses.

Usage & Nuances

Informal idiom, mainly for businesses, projects, or systems that fail. Not used for people. Common with 'company', 'business', or 'plan'. Often implies sudden or total failure. Do not use in very formal contexts.

Example Sentences

The restaurant went belly up after only six months.

basic

Many small shops go belly up during tough economic times.

basic

If the project goes belly up, we'll lose our investment.

basic

Their plan looked good at first but then it just went belly up overnight.

natural

The whole system could go belly up if we don’t fix that bug.

natural

No one expected the startup to go belly up so soon.

natural