broke

[brohk] /broʊk/
verb
1.
a simple past tense of break.
2.
Nonstandard. a past participle of break.
3.
Archaic. a past participle of break.
adjective
4.
without money; penniless.
5.
bankrupt.
noun
6.
Papermaking. paper unfit for sale; paper that is to be repulped.
7.
brokes, wool of poor quality taken from the neck and belly of sheep.
Idioms
8.
go broke,
  1. to become destitute of money or possessions.
  2. to go bankrupt:
    In that business people are forever going broke.
9.
go for broke, to exert oneself or employ one's resources to the utmost.
Origin
1655-65 (adj.); 1875-80 (noun)
Synonyms
4, 5. insolvent, destitute, impoverished.
British Dictionary definitions for go broke

broke

/brəʊk/
verb
1.
the past tense of break
adjective
2.
(informal) having no money; bankrupt
3.
(slang) go for broke, to risk everything in a gambling or other venture
Word Origin and History for go broke

broke

adj.

past tense and obsolete past participle of break (v.); extension to "insolvent" is first recorded 1716 (broken in this sense is attested from 1590s). Old English cognate broc meant, in addition to "that which breaks," "affliction, misery."

Slang definitions & phrases for go broke

go broke

verb phrase

To become penniless; become insolvent; go belly up, take a bath: His newest escapade into the fashionable world of trade and manufacturing had again gone bust (1895+)


broke

adjective

Entirely out of money; destitute (1660s+)

Related Terms

all hell broke loose, dead broke, flat broke, go broke, go for broke


Idioms and Phrases with go broke

go broke

Also, go bust. Undergo financial collapse, lose most or all of one's money. For example, The company's about to go broke, or The producer of that movie went bust. The first expression dates from the mid-1600s; the second, slangier variant dates from the mid-1800s.

broke

see:
also see under:
break