before going broke

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before going broke" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing financial decisions or actions taken to avoid losing all one's money. Example: "I need to find a new job before going broke and losing my apartment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That gave way to the chicken farm, from which he made $5,000 from his first batch of birds before going broke when all of the next succumbed to limberneck disease.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

There remains a good chance that politicians will stop the country going broke before Wednesday; fixing the right's political recklessness may take far longer.

The Guardian - Opinion

You are at a $10 blackjack table, going broke before she even gets back with your shitty drink, leaving and never coming back again.

Vice

"The airlines told us they were going broke long before these attacks occurred, while at the same time giving their executives $120 million in salaries and bonuses this year," he said in a statement.

The New York Times

"The airlines told us they were going broke long before these attacks occurred, while at the same time giving their executives $120 million in salaries and bonuses," Senator Ernest F. Hollings, a Democrat from South Carolina, said yesterday.

The New York Times

"The airlines told us they were going broke long before these attacks occurred, while at the same time giving their executives $120 million in salaries and bonuses this year," he said in a statement, adding that he would be willing to consider federal aid to the airlines "if they give up monopolistic control of the nation's hub airports".

The New York Times

I was going broke.

The New Yorker

"Going broke is a business.

The New York Times - Magazine

These programs are going broke.

The New York Times

The company was going broke.

The New York Times

The city was going broke.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing business strategies or personal finance, use "before going broke" to emphasize the urgency of taking preventative measures to avoid financial collapse.

Common error

While "before going broke" is acceptable, avoid overuse in formal writing. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "before facing bankruptcy" or "prior to insolvency" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before going broke" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating the timing or condition under which an action is taken. This is supported by Ludwig, which shows its usage in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "before going broke" is a commonly used expression indicating actions or circumstances designed to prevent financial ruin. Ludwig's analysis affirms its grammatical correctness and prevalent use in news and media. While acceptable, it's crucial to consider the context. For more formal settings, alternatives like "prior to insolvency" are recommended. This phrase serves to inject urgency into discussions about financial strategies, underscoring the importance of proactive measures. It's important to note that Ludwig AI deems the phrase correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before running out of money

Offers a simpler and more direct way of expressing the idea.

before financial failure

Offers a general, less severe way of describing the situation.

before facing bankruptcy

Emphasizes the legal consequence of "going broke".

before financial ruin

Uses a more dramatic and impactful term to describe the situation.

prior to becoming insolvent

Replaces the more informal "going broke" with a formal term "insolvent".

before becoming destitute

Focuses on the state of extreme poverty that results from "going broke".

prior to economic downfall

Replaces the more informal "going broke" with an elevated term "economic downfall".

ahead of financial collapse

Suggests a sudden and catastrophic financial failure.

prior to losing everything

Highlights the potential loss of all assets.

before liquidation

Focuses on the business aspect of ceasing operations due to lack of funds.

FAQs

What does "before going broke" mean?

The phrase "before going broke" means taking action or experiencing a situation to prevent financial ruin or complete loss of money.

What can I say instead of "before going broke"?

You can use alternatives like "before running out of money", "before facing bankruptcy", or "prior to becoming insolvent" depending on the context.

How to use "before going broke" in a sentence?

Example: "They implemented cost-cutting measures "before going broke"."

Is "before going broke" formal or informal?

The phrase "before going broke" is generally considered informal. In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "prior to insolvency" or "before facing bankruptcy".