fold up
Fold something so it's smaller and easier to store; or, for a business, to close down and fail.
Meanings
To fold an object into a smaller, more compact shape.
"He folded up his newspaper and tucked it under his arm as he left the café."
Of a business or organization, to fail and stop operating.
"The small independent bookshop folded up after thirty years due to rising rents."
To collapse physically, for example by doubling over in laughter or pain.
"The comedian's punchline was so good the entire audience folded up laughing."
Has both a literal (folding an object) and a figurative (a business failing) sense. The figurative sense is informal. The literal sense is very common and everyday. The business sense is more common in British English, similar to 'go under' or 'close down.'
Commonly used with
Forms
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