tits up

See also: titsup and tits-up

English

Alternative forms

• tits-up
• titsup

Etymology

From “tits” + “up”, in reference to a woman lying on her back. It is suggested that the term derives from the behaviour of aeroplanes' attitude indicators, which turn upside down when faulty and display an inverted 'W' resembling a pair of breasts.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU):

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Adjective

tits up (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic, slang, usually of a woman, usually naked) Lying down face up.
2. (idiomatic, slang, vulgar) Broken; failed; inoperable.
   • 1987, Nora Roberts, Daring to dream, page 157:

     The vast majority go tits up in the first year. Basic economics, even if the people have some training and education in retail.

   • 2007, Gemma Townley, The Hopeless Romantic's Handbook‎, page 102:

     But believe me, sunshine, if this show goes tits up, none of us are going to come out smelling of roses."

3. (idiomatic, slang, vulgar) Dead.

Anagrams

• titups