go under

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle under

Meanings

1

Fail completely as a business or project

Why “under”? Something goes below the surface.

Many small shops went under last year.
Many small shops failed completely last year.
The family cafe went under after rent rose.
The family cafe failed completely after rent rose.

Don't confuse with

go undergo forth

Go under means fail completely as a business or project. Go forth means move repeatedly between two points or positions.

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Many small shops went under last year. What does it mean?

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