Because they almost broke the bank!
Learn one of the most common money and shopping idioms.
π Home β Banking Idioms β Cash Cow
Complete this lesson, then continue with Break the Bank, Nest Egg, and In the Black to build your Business English vocabulary.
Break + the + Bank
Say it slowly three times.
Category: Banking Idioms / Business English
β Difficulty: Beginner
β± Time: 10 minutes
Break the Bank means something costs so much money that you cannot afford it, or it would use almost all of your money.
Many years ago, people played gambling games in casinos.
If one player won so much money that the casino could not pay everyone, they were said to break the bank.
Today, the idiom usually means something is extremely expensive.
Welcome!
The TikTok video explained the basic meaning.
This lesson also includes:
If something costs nearly all your money, you can say it would break the bank.
| Anna | Tom |
|---|---|
| Should we stay at this hotel? | Yes. It looks nice and it won't break the bank. |
| Great! Let's book it. | Perfect. |
Businesses often advertise affordable products by saying they "won't break the bank."
Which sentence correctly uses "Break the Bank"?
Our family wanted a holiday that wouldn't ________.
Choose your next banking idiom.
πΈ Break the Bank βRead these sentences aloud.
"This hotel won't break the bank."
"Buying that watch would break the bank."
Practice saying each sentence three times.
Usually yes. It often means something is affordable when used as "won't break the bank."
Yes. Native speakers use it all the time when talking about prices.
Something affordable or inexpensive.
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Business English