break the bank
The idiom "break the bank" is often used to describe financial strain or excessive cost, originating from gambling terminology.
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Definition
B2Everyday Usage
(informal)To cost more money than one can afford.
Example
- Buying a new car can really break the bank if you're not careful.
- They chose a vacation that wouldn't break the bank.
B2Financial Management
(informal)To use up all of one's financial resources.
Example
- Renovating the house broke the bank, leaving them with no savings.
- Be careful with your spending, or you might break the bank.
C1Gambling
(historical, technical)To win all the money available in a gambling game or casino.
Example
- The gambler broke the bank at the roulette table, winning more than the casino had on hand.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "break the bank":
go for brokebreak one's backbet the farmbreak the moldwin bigbreak someone's backbig moneybreak one's neckhit the jackpotbreak withbreak inbust outbreak the back ofbank shotmax outbreak intobank upgo overboardbring home the baconshell out