to play (the) bankrupt: to fail to pay one's debts; to go bankrupt. Also: to use another person's money fraudulently; (figurative) to break faith…

intransitive. To go bankrupt; to declare bankruptcy. In early use also: †to fraudulently avoid paying one's debts (obsolete). Cf. to make bankrupt at…

The name of: an ancient debtors' prison in London; phrase †to take Ludgate (see quot. 1585).

intransitive (for reflexive). To become bankrupt, to ‘fail’ (commercially). Now less usual.

Phrases. down the weather: in adversity. to go down the weather: to become bankrupt. Obsolete.

To ruin financially, make bankrupt (a person or bank). to break the bank: formerly also in the sense ‘to become bankrupt’.

to come (or go) to the right (or wrong) shop: to seek to obtain something from the right (or wrong) place or person.

to swallow a spider, to go bankrupt. Obsolete.

to march off. intransitive. To become a bankrupt. Obsolete.

intransitive. To become bankrupt. Obsolete.

†to break up shop: to become bankrupt. Obsolete. rare.

intransitive in the same sense.

With up. To become ‘broken’ or bankrupt. Cf. bust, v.2 3a.

Australian. to go up King Street and variants: to go bankrupt; to get into financial difficulties. Now rare.

To become insolvent or bankrupt. Also figurative.

intransitive. Of a business, venture, etc.: to go bankrupt; to be ruined financially.

intransitive.colloquial (originally U.S.). to belly up: to turn over or belly upwards; (figurative) to fail, become defunct, or give in; to die; to…