Phrase guide

belly up

adj · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Dead or defunct.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable

Examples

  • After several financial failures, the organization went belly up.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To gather close, or approach eagerly or assertively, as a bar for ordering alcoholic drinks.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To die; to fail or go out of business.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To lay on the back with its belly up.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.