break the bank
Meaning
To cost or require so much money that it would use up your budget or financial resources; to be too expensive.
Origin
From gambling (especially roulette): a player winning so much that the casino’s “bank” couldn’t cover payouts, effectively exhausting the house’s funds.
Notes
Often mildly hyperbolic. Very common in the negative (“won’t break the bank”) to mean affordable. Informal to neutral; used in everyday speech and marketing.
Examples
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We can take a weekend trip without breaking the bank.
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That designer coat looks great, but it would break the bank.
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I want a decent laptop that won’t break the bank.
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Hiring a full-time consultant could break the bank for a small startup.
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They renovated the kitchen on a budget so it didn’t break the bank.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed phrase with “the bank.” Verb inflects (break/broke/broken). Common patterns: “It won’t break the bank,” “That would break the bank,” “without breaking the bank.”
Synonyms
- cost an arm and a leg
- cost a fortune
- be very expensive
- empty your pockets
Antonyms
- be affordable
- be within budget
- save money