# tits up

idiom · Vulgar

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tits-up
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Broken; failed; inoperable.

## Examples

- My computer went tits up right before the deadline.
- Our old car finally went tits up on the way to the airport.
- The entire project went tits up when the server crashed during the final presentation.
- The wedding plans went tits up after the caterer canceled and the venue flooded on the same morning.
- I tried to fix the washing machine myself, but everything went tits up and now the kitchen is underwater.
- The small business went tits up after the bank refused to extend their loan during the first year of trading.
- Despite our careful planning, the complex logistics system went tits up, forcing the entire team to abandon the operation.

## Origin

The origin of the phrase is uncertain, though etymologists suggest it likely draws from the posture of a deceased animal lying on its back. An alternative, unproven theory traces the expression to the behaviour of aircraft attitude indicators; under certain regional conventions, a faulty instrument may invert to display a 'W' that resembles a pair of breasts. Both accounts link the term to a state of total, inverted collapse. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.