# toes up

idiom

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

## Meaning

dead, killed

## Examples

- The old computer finally went toes up this morning.
- The car went toes up in the middle of the highway, leaving us stranded for hours.
- After the engine sputtered and went toes up during the storm, the captain realized they were drifting toward the rocks.

## Origin

From the compound of toes and up, recorded in reference to a corpse lying on its back. The term emerged from the visual alignment of the feet in a recumbent, deceased position.

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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.