Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

Break the bank

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Break the bank" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourResources, Money, & Value collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Resources, Money, & Value

Break the bank

Break the bank
To cost more money than someone can afford; to use up all of one's available financial resources.
History & Origin

The phrase originated in 19th-century gambling houses and casinos, particularly in games like roulette or baccarat. It described a rare and monumental moment when a player won more money than the table's reserve funds (the 'bank') held on hand, forcing the table to temporarily shut down. Over time, the expression shifted from winning a casino's entire stash to simply spending more money than an individual can afford.

Examples
Casual Conversation

We can go out for a nice dinner at that new Italian place, don't worry, it won't break the bank.

Workplace Email

Upgrading our project management software will streamline operations without breaking the bank for the department.

News/Media

Tech reviewers note that the manufacturer's latest smartphone offers premium features that manage not to break the bank.

Academic Writing

Implementing sustainable urban architecture requires finding cost-effective materials that do not break the bank of local municipalities.

Formal Speech

Our goal as an organization is to provide top-tier healthcare education that will enrich your skills but won't break the bank.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. After working overtime for three consecutive months, Sarah finally managed to break the bank.

B. Buying a brand-new luxury sports car would completely break the bank for a college student living on a tight budget.

C. The secure vault was so poorly guarded that the thieves were able to break the bank in under five minutes.

D. If you keep depositing money into your savings account every week, you will break the bank by the end of the year.