fold up

intransitive verb

1

: to give way : collapse, crumple

at the first shot the deer stopped short, then suddenly folded up

the old chair suddenly folded up under him

2

a

: to cease resistance or exertion : give up : fail, quit

the horse folded up in the homestretch

the defense folded up under the savage attack

the weak just get crushed; you can't blame them for folding up

—K. M. Dodson

b

: to stop production or operation for lack of funds, support, or business success : go bankrupt : close up : close

small businesses were folding up right and left

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