[Idiom] GO BELLY UP. - Understanding Business Failures

Fail completely.

Go belly up" is a vivid expression used to describe a complete failure, often referring to a business that has gone bankrupt. The imagery comes from the way a dead fish floats on the water, belly upwards. This idiom is often used in economic contexts to discuss businesses that did not survive due to various reasons, ranging from poor management to unfavorable market conditions.

Example Sentences

1. The company went belly up after the economic downturn.

   The company failed after the economic downturn.

2. Without any warning, the small startup went belly up, leaving its employees looking for new jobs.

   The small startup failed unexpectedly, leaving employees jobless.

3. After mismanagement of funds, it wasn’t long before the restaurant went belly up.

   The restaurant failed after mismanaging funds.