fold up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Intermediate (B1)Neutral to Informal. The literal 'bend and make smaller' meaning is neutral. The 'business failure' and 'emotional collapse' meanings are more informal.
Quick answer
What does “fold up” mean?
To bend something (like paper, cloth, or furniture) so that one part lies flat against another part, making it smaller and often easier to store.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To bend something (like paper, cloth, or furniture) so that one part lies flat against another part, making it smaller and often easier to store.
To close or fail completely, especially a business or enterprise; to collapse emotionally or physically; to surrender or give in.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use all senses. 'Fold up' a map/chair is equally common. The business failure sense ('The company folded up') is slightly more informal in the UK.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in the business failure sense.
Grammar
How to Use “fold up” in a Sentence
[Subject] + fold up + [Object] (transitive)[Subject] + fold up (intransitive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fold up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Could you fold up the washing, please?
- The fair-weather supporters folded up when the team started losing.
American English
- Fold up the map when you're done.
- Several stores on Main Street folded up during the recession.
adjective
British English
- The fold-up bed was surprisingly comfortable.
- She bought a fold-up bicycle for her commute.
American English
- We need a fold-up table for the picnic.
- Keep a fold-up chair in your trunk for emergencies.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally to describe a company ceasing operations, e.g., 'The startup folded up after two years.'
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical or economic texts describing business failures.
Everyday
Common for laundry, furniture (camping chairs, tables), and paper (maps, letters).
Technical
Used in manufacturing or logistics for describing compact storage of items.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fold up”
- Using 'fold up' for software or apps closing (use 'close' or 'minimize').
- Using 'fold up' to mean 'give up' in a non-collapse context (e.g., 'I folded up on my homework' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The literal meaning (folding objects) is neutral and acceptable in most contexts. The meanings related to business failure or emotional collapse are informal.
Often interchangeable for the literal action. 'Fold up' can emphasise the completeness of the action (making it ready for storage) or is the standard form for certain objects (a 'fold-up chair'). 'Fold' alone is more general.
Yes, informally. It means to collapse, often with laughter ('He folded up laughing') or to succumb to pressure ('The boxer folded up in the third round').
Yes, when used as an adjective before a noun (a fold-up chair, a fold-up map). As a verb, it's written as two separate words (fold up the chair).
To bend something (like paper, cloth, or furniture) so that one part lies flat against another part, making it smaller and often easier to store.
Fold up: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfəʊld ˈʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfoʊld ˈʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Fold up like a cheap suitcase (to collapse easily or fail completely)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a piece of paper that is told to go to sleep ('fold'). To sleep, it must lie down ('up' is misleading, think 'into itself'). So, 'fold up' means to put something into a compact, resting state.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAILURE IS COLLAPSING / BUSINESS IS A PHYSICAL STRUCTURE (that can be folded and put away).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'fold up' CORRECTLY in its figurative sense?