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Definitions

go to the wall

VERB
fail
Synonyms
STRONGEST
break close drop end finish
STRONG
crash defalcate default dishonor fold overdraw repudiate terminate
WEAK
be cleaned out be in arrears be ruined be taken to the cleaners become insolvent close down close one's doors drop a bundle go bankrupt go belly up go broke go bust go into Chapter 11 go out of business go under go up lose big lose one's shirt
Antonyms
STRONGEST
begin commence continue start
WEAK
accomplish achieve capture complete deliver earn gain merit obtain procure prosper reach succeed win
VERB
kick the bucket
Synonyms
WEAK
bite the dust buy the farm cash in one's chips cease living croak expire go belly up go west meet one's maker pass away pass on shove off succumb

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“We have to go to the wall to defend those private properties, and that is the end of the story,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 21, 2025

Among things McCann planned to focus on: “Don’t go to the wall — just try to stay in the middle of the ice,” he said, laughing.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 11, 2024

Thousands of small and medium Kuwaiti businesses could go to the wall after being walloped by the pandemic, potentially torpedoing a private sector central to the country's efforts to remake its unorthodox and oil-pumped economy.

From Reuters • Aug. 12, 2021

So after the rocky start, the Bulldogs decided that to get through that early season wall, they’d have to go to the wall.

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2016

So! one must give way, and Germany is beginning to mutter that it shall not always be her sons who go to the wall.

From Mysterious Mr. Sabin by Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)