The phrase "goes broke" is commonly used to describe a person or entity that has run out of money and is unable to pay their debts. The spelling of "goes" uses IPA phonetic transcription [ɡoʊz], with the "o" pronounced as a long vowel sound, and the "s" as a voiced consonant sound. The spelling of "broke" uses IPA phonetic transcription [broʊk], with the "o" also pronounced as a long vowel sound and the "k" as an unvoiced consonant sound. Together, these words form a common phrase in English that describes a financial downfall.
"Going broke" is a colloquial expression that refers to a financial state where an individual, business, or organization has exhausted their financial resources and lacks the ability to meet their financial obligations, resulting in insolvency or bankruptcy.
When someone "goes broke," it means they have faced significant financial difficulties and reached a point where they are unable to pay off debts, maintain their lifestyle, or sustain their operations with existing funds or income. This condition is often characterized by the depletion of available resources, a negative cash flow, excessive debt, or the inability to generate profits.
The phrase "goes broke" can be used to describe situations in various contexts. It can refer to personal finance, where an individual's income and assets are insufficient to cover their expenses and liabilities, leading to a state of being financially insolvent. In a business context, a company "goes broke" when it experiences persistent losses, declining revenues, or overwhelming debt, resulting in its inability to continue operations and eventually declaring bankruptcy.
"Going broke" signifies a critical financial position where immediate action is needed to address the financial difficulties and liabilities. It may entail seeking expert financial advice, debt restructuring, liquidating assets, or filing for bankruptcy to navigate the insolvency situation.
The phrase "goes broke" is derived from the verb "to break", which in this context refers to a person's financial status or business collapsing or failing.
The word "break", in its original sense, comes from the Old English word "brecan", which means to fracture or shatter. Over time, it took on various figurative meanings, including "to ruin financially" or "to go bankrupt".
The use of "broke" specifically to describe financial ruin or insolvency originated in the late 17th century. It is derived from the past participle of the Middle English verb "breken" (to break). In this case, "broke" refers to a person's inability to continue financially and signifies a state of being financially broken or shattered.