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Definitions

go belly up

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 broke go bust go into Chapter 11 go out of business go to the wall 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 to the wall go west meet one's maker pass away pass on shove off succumb
VERB
topple
Synonyms
STRONGEST
collapse oust overturn plunge tumble unseat upset
STRONG
capsize fall falter founder land lurch overbalance pitch slump stagger stumble teeter totter unhorse
WEAK
bring down do a pratfall go down hit the dirt keel over knock down lose it nose-dive take a header tip over turn over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
hold increase rise
STRONG
ascend lose
WEAK
place put straighten
VERB
tumble
Synonyms
STRONGEST
descend dip drop flop go down nose-dive plummet plunge sag skid slip slump spill stumble topple
STRONG
disarrange disarray disorder disturb down flatten floor jumble keel level pitch roll toss trip unsettle upset
WEAK
bowl down bring down do a pratfall fall headlong hit the dirt keel over knock down knock over lose footing lose it mess up take a header tip over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ascend go up increase rise
STRONG
order

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.

He’d given Chastain his first big breaks, only to have a sponsorship deal go belly-up.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 27, 2022

State and federal regulations normally require drillers to pay an up-front bond to cover future cleanups if they go belly-up.

From Reuters • Jun. 16, 2020

It has also see some of its investments go belly-up, like its microtransit service Chariot, which shuttered earlier this year.

From The Verge • Sep. 25, 2019

Within months, the oil industry began to go belly-up.

From Washington Times • Apr. 3, 2017

When the hour was over—someone already itching to get on the machine after him—Saunders would be ready to spend the next few hours figuring out what the heck had made the program go belly-up.

From Hackers, Heroes of the Computer Revolution Chapters 1 and 2 by Levy, Steven

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.