Word Study
belly up
CIDE DICTIONARY
belly up, v. i.
to approach (a counter) and stand in front of it; -- used mostly in the phrase belly up to the bar (i.e. to a counter in a saloon). [PJC]
belly up, a. [from analogy to the position of a floating dead fish.].
defunct; bankrupt; -- used mostly of commercial organizations; often used in the phrase go belly-up, i. e. to go bankrupt. [PJC]
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