belly-up
1 of 2adjective
bel·ly-up ˈbe-lē-ˈəp 
: hopelessly ruined or defeated
especially : bankrupt
the business went belly-up
belly up
2 of 2verb
bellied up; bellying up; bellies up
intransitive verb
: to move close or next to
bellied up to the bar
Synonyms
Verb
- approach
- close
- close in
- come up
- draw on
- near
- nigh
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb belly up to the buffet table and help yourselves
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
from the floating position of a dead fish
First Known Use
Adjective
1918, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1880, in the meaning defined above
bellied up
verb
as in closed in
to come near or nearer belly up to the buffet table and help yourselves Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- closed in
- approached
- closed
- drew on
- came
- came up
- turned up
- sneaked up
- neared
- nighed
- showed up
- arrived
- landed
- reached
- attained
- hit
- waltzed (up)
- gained
- snuck up
- adjoined
- bordered
- crept up
- verged
- made
- touched
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- backed (up or away)
- withdrew
- retired
- retreated
- receded
- walked out
- left
- removed
- shoved (off)
- went
- departed
- took off
- lit
- quit
- ran away
- lighted out
- exited
- quitted
- cleared out
- pulled out