English

Verb

belly up to the bar

1. (chiefly US, idiomatic) To commit oneself to a challenge or task; to accept a responsibility; to acknowledge a fact.
   • 1991 June 2, "If Delta's Going To Make A Move, 'It's Now Or Never'," Businessweek (retrieved 5 April 2015):

     Allen declines to discuss acquisition plans. . . . Nonetheless, W. Whitley Hawkins, whom Allen recently promoted to president from executive vice-president for marketing, asks the question out loud: "Are we going to belly up to the bar? All Pan Am assets for sale have some appeal to us."

   • 2005 March 4, Rebecca Leung, "CIA Flying Suspects to Torture?," CBS News (retrieved 25 March 2015):

     "[T]he congressional committees aren't gonna belly up to the bar and say, 'We authorized this,'" says Scheuer.

   • 2008 April 25, Mark Leibovich, "Black Leader in the House Sharply Criticizes Bill Clinton," New York Times (retrieved 5 April 2015):

     “When he was going through his impeachment problems, it was the black community that bellied up to the bar,” Mr. Clyburn said.

   • 2014 Dec. 14, Deirdre Shesgreen, "Boehner, McConnell face big to-do list in next Congress," USA Today (retrieved 25 March 2015):

     "They're going to have to belly up to the bar and take up these difficult issues," said G. William Hoagland, who served as director of budget and appropriations.

Usage notes

• Used especially in business-related or political contexts.

Synonyms

• face the music, knuckle down, man up, pull up one's socks, roll up one's sleeves