belly up

verb

bellied up; bellying up; bellies up
Synonyms of belly upnext

intransitive verb

: to move close or next to
bellied up to the bar

Examples of belly up in a Sentence

belly up to the buffet table and help yourselves
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But when the primary local industry went belly up, so did the town. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2026 The private patio space off of the living room bellies up to the beach, where two sunbeds and an umbrella are set up for sunset happy hours. Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 24 Feb. 2026 Once called ''the funniest woman on TV,'' Catherine O'Hara spends much of her time these days bellying up against a snooker table at the Squeeze Club, a Toronto juice bar and pool hall. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026 Across the river, Le Crocodile at the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn brings a stylish, approachable scene for bellying up and indulging in sexy French cuisine. Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026 For the best seat in the house, request the chef's table that bellies up to the kitchen. Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 16 Jan. 2026 Wilding eventually rebranded a taproom in the River North Art District with the Great Divide name, so Denverites can still belly up without traveling to the suburbs. Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025 Wu compared the current state of the industry to the internet era before the dot-com bubble, when a host of firms went belly up but the technology reoriented the economy and established corporate giants. ABC News, 22 Nov. 2025 Knott’s Scary Farm visitors who belly up to the bar at the Calico Saloon can shout requests to a ghost pianist who plays everything from Ragtime masterpieces to summery pop hits by Katy Perry during the annual Halloween seasonal event. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of belly up was in 1880

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Belly up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belly%20up. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

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