washed up washed up {adj.} Ruined; finished; a failure. Harry is looking awfully sad. I hear his business has collapsed and he is all washed up. Categories: add yours add yours business {adj.} Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms by A. Makkai, M.T. Boatner, J.E. Gates © 2025 To section: W Subscribe to: American Idioms► Also consider the parent subscriptions (3)Idioms feedEnglish languageHome page and general feed Add my comment Add my comment