belly up

English

Alternative forms

• belly-up

Adjective

belly up (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) Dead or defunct.

   After several financial failures, the organization went belly up.

Usage notes

• Often used with go, went, or turn.

Related terms

• go belly-up

Verb

to belly up (third-person singular simple present bellies up, present participle bellying up, simple past and past participle bellied up)

1. (idiomatic) To gather close to, or approach eagerly or assertively, as a bar for ordering alcoholic drinks.

   He bellied up to the bar as soon as he saw a free stool.