fold up

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fold up (third-person singular simple present folds up, present participle folding up, simple past and past participle folded up)

1. (idiomatic) To make or become more compact by folding.

   Please fold up these towels so they will fit on the shelf.

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:

     Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.

2. (idiomatic) To go out of business.

   That place folded up years ago.

   • 1990, Wayne Jancik, The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders, →ISBN, page 288:

     When Grimaldi left the group in 1976, Rod folded his band up.

• Upfold, upfold

|fold-up (adj)