fold up

British  

verb

1. (tr) to make smaller or more compact

2. (intr) to collapse, as with laughter or pain

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fold up Idioms  

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]

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Example Sentences

Madame Ionesco had folded up her stool and was now scurrying down the street.

From Literature

That way his team only has to travel with the custom-made canvas they use for the projections, which “is very small” and can be folded up.

From Los Angeles Times

"I remember I used to fold up socks into a ball and put it on the floor and play," he says.

From BBC

The Bicycle Association, which represents firms who make and sell standard and fold up bikes, said it was helping its members to respond to the new rules.

From BBC

This is unacceptable for disabled passengers, since these devices are smaller than a pram, and can easily fold up to fit into a cupboard or an overhead locker.

From BBC

Related Words

• collapse
• crash
• decline
• decrease
• depreciate
• diminish
• dip
• dive
• dwindle
• ease
• go down
• land
• plummet
• plunge
• settle
• sink
• slip
• slump
• stumble
• tumble