Definitions

go to the wall

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fail v.
kick the bucket v.

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.

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go to the wall

“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

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

Conservative MP Giles Watling, a former actor and panto dame, warns "many provincial theatres will go to the wall, frankly, because that's the time they can make the money".

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2020

“You need to be sure that the input you’re giving, you’re willing to go to the wall with it.”

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 29, 2018

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 E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim

go to the wall

Example Sentences

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