belly up
/ˈbɛliˌʌp/
adverb
- With the belly facing upward; in a position of being overturned or on one's back.
- The boat turned belly-up in the strong current.
- The turtle flipped belly-up and couldn't right itself.
- He lay belly-up on the grass, staring at the clouds.
adjective
- Dead; said of a fish that has died and floats with its belly facing upward.
- When we got to the pond, a few goldfish were already belly-up.
- The aquarium keeper removed the belly-up fish from the tank.
- After the heat wave, many of the koi in the garden pond turned belly-up.
- Failed or bankrupt; no longer operating or viable.
- The startup went belly-up after only six months.
- If we don't get more funding, the whole project will go belly-up.
- Several local shops have gone belly-up because of the recession.