Catch Word #291 – English Idiom: What Does ‘Belly Up’ Mean?

In this Catch Word episode, you will learn two useful English idioms that describe financial failure. Andrew and Indiana explain what it means “to lose your shirt” and “to go belly up.” These expressions are common in news stories, business conversations, and everyday talk about money problems. Your hosts share clear examples from investing, gambling, restaurants, and regular life so you can understand how native speakers use these idioms naturally.

What you’ll learn with this episode:

• How to use “lose your shirt” when someone loses a large amount of money
• How to use “go belly up” to talk about a business or project that fails
• Helpful example dialogues that show tone, emotion, and real-life context

This episode is perfect for you if:

• You want to build everyday vocabulary for talking about money and risk
• You want to understand English used in news reports, business shows, and casual conversations
• You need practical listening practice with clear examples and friendly explanations
• You want to feel more confident using idioms that native speakers use when discussing financial problems

The Best Way to Learn with This Episode:

• Culips members get an interactive transcript, helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member. Become a Culips member now: Click here.
• Members can access the ad-free version: Click here.
• Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join. 

Fun Fact

Did you know that “lose your shirt” comes from old gambling slang in the 1800s, when people sometimes bet so much money that they literally walked home without their clothes? The image was so shocking and memorable that people began using “lose your shirt” to describe losing all your money, even when no clothing was actually involved.