The expression "break the bank" is commonly used to describe an action that requires a lot of money. The spelling of this phrase is straightforward: [bɹeɪk ðə bæŋk]. The phonetic transcription shows that the word "break" is pronounced with a long "a" sound and the "k" sound is emphasized. The word "bank" is pronounced with a short "a" sound and a hard "k" at the end. Overall, the spelling of "break the bank" accurately reflects its pronunciation.
To "break the bank" is an idiomatic expression that originated from gambling and is commonly used in a metaphorical sense. This phrase refers to the act of winning so much money at a casino or any form of gambling that the establishment does not have enough funds to pay out the winnings. It implies an extraordinary and unexpected success or achievement that surpasses anyone's expectations. Nevertheless, in contemporary usage, it is more frequently employed to describe an excessive expenditure or an incident where someone spends an exorbitant amount of money beyond their intended limits.
This phrase is often used figuratively to describe any situation in which someone exhausts their financial resources through gambling, shopping, or extravagant spending. Its metaphorical meaning has broadened to contextually represent an event or action that causes financial ruin or places someone into severe debt due to their inability to control their spending habits. Moreover, "breaking the bank" can also convey a sense of achieving a significant triumph or surpassing a financial milestone, such as earning a substantial amount of money, making a record-breaking profit, or experiencing a newfound wealth. The expression "break the bank" has become deeply ingrained in popular culture and is frequently utilized in casual conversations, literature, and media to depict excessive financial outcomes, extraordinary wins or losses, and an individual's financial downfall or salvation.