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Synonyms

break the bank

Idioms  
  1. Ruin one financially, exhaust one's resources, as in I guess the price of a movie won't break the bank. This term originated in gambling, where it means that a player has won more than the banker (the house) can pay. It also may be used ironically, as above. [c. 1600]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At Huntington School in York, a group of business students wanted to put an end to prohibitive pricing and make sure looking good for the celebration would not break the bank.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

The military wanted a drone that could be built quickly and in large quantities, fly far, and be cheap enough not to break the bank.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

And yet, the sector is still willing to break the bank for the Super Bowl—even though, time and again, we’ve already seen how this particular game plays out.

From Slate • Feb. 8, 2026

If you’re searching for a VPN that won’t break the bank but still delivers the goods, Surfshark deserves your attention.

From Salon • Dec. 10, 2025

"To-morrow?" he said, in a voice hard, passionless, inflectionless; "how could one break the bank to-morrow, when all his money was gone yesterday?"

From Bohemian Days Three American Tales by Townsend, George Alfred

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