expression, noun
losing one's livelihood; being out of work; losing one's bread and butter
Colloquial expression literally meaning 'the eating-up of one's food', used to describe a situation where one loses their source of income or job. Often used in the phrase おまんまの食い上げになる.
会社が倒産して、おまんまの食い上げになった。
The company went bankrupt, and I lost my livelihood.
この仕事を失ったらおまんまの食い上げだ。
If I lose this job, I'll be out on the street.
From おまんま (colloquial for 'food' or 'meal', a child's word or informal term) + の + 食い上げ (noun form of 食い上げる, 'to eat up completely'). The phrase figuratively means having one's food source taken away, i.e., losing one's livelihood.