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fold up

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fold something up

 

1. Lit. to double something over into its original folded position. Please fold the paper up when you are finished. Please fold up the paper.

2. Fig. to put an end to something; to close a money-losing enterprise. Mr. Jones was going broke, so he folded his business up. The producer decided to fold up the play early. It was losing money.

See also: fold, up

fold up

 

1. Lit. [for something] to close by folding. The table just folded up with no warning, trapping my leg.

2. Fig. [for someone] to faint. She folded up when she heard the news. I was so weak that I was afraid I was going to fold up.

3. Fig. [for a business] to cease operating. Our shop finally folded up because of the recession. Tom's little candy shop folded up.

See also: fold, up

fold up

1. Fail, especially go out of business. For example, Three stores on Main Street have folded up.

2. Collapse, break down. For example, When she told him about the dog's death, she folded up. This idiom alludes to closing or bringing an object into more compact form. [Early 1900s]

See also: fold, up

fold up

v.

1. To bend or fold something so that it is closed or made compact: My roommate folded the letter up. Fold up that box and put it away.

2. To be able to be bent or folded to become closed or made compact: This table folds up so you can put it in the trunk of a small car.

3. To go out of business: Three of my favorite stores on this street folded up last summer.

See also: fold, up