end up broke

USAGE SUMMARY

'end up broke' is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to describe a situation where someone has gone through their money and is now left with nothing, often implying foolishness or misfortune in their financial decisions. For example, "After starting his own business, he quickly spent all his money on expensive advertising and ended up broke."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"We may end up broke," he added.

The New York Times

These usually go to people who can't sing, can't write, can't play and yet end up millionaires, while true artists, like Rodriguez, end up broke and ripped-off.

The New York Times - Books

(And, oh, Thespis, does Strabo lie!) Using nearly every cheap trick in the book — coincidences abound — Mamet has his three hapless characters end up broke and stranded several times in the course of the play, while babbling on about sex.

The New Yorker

But if the bar is set too high it would temporarily reprieve countries that are going to end up broke anyway; if set too low, it could force sound sovereigns into bankruptcy.

The Economist

For Way, a recent Sports Illustrated article about how many athletes end up broke despite having made millions during their careers convinced him that this type of mentoring was sorely needed.

The New York Times - Sports

Back in New York, where she was a would-be documentary filmmaker and he did something that required wearing a suit, they struggled, living in an apartment (a "microloft") as big as a coffin and in which they're nearly buried when he loses his job, the real-estate market tanks and they end up broke.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

An unfortunate number of his former teammates have ended up broke, or divorced, or worse.

The New Yorker

Murphy and de Acosta started out rich and ended up broke.

The New York Times - Books

In the record business, making millions off artists, many of whom ended up broke, used to be standard business practice.

The New Yorker

Jasmine, knowingly or not, colluded in the ruin of many, but she has ended up broke, homeless, barely sane.

Independent

Karl Hyde and Rick Smith of Underworld had tried all that in the 1980s and ended up broke and broken.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "end up broke" to describe a situation where someone's actions or circumstances lead them to financial ruin, especially when implying a degree of mismanagement or misfortune.

Common error

Avoid using "end up broke" when simply describing temporary cash flow issues. "Broke" typically implies a more severe and potentially long-term state of financial hardship, not just a passing lack of funds.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "end up broke" functions as a verb phrase indicating the eventual state of becoming financially ruined. It typically modifies a subject by describing a consequence resulting from a series of actions or events, leading to a state of impoverishment. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "end up broke" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression to depict the culmination of events leading to financial ruin. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Its usage spans various contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Wiki content, indicating a neutral register. Alternatives like "become penniless" or "go bankrupt" offer nuanced substitutes depending on the desired level of formality and the specific circumstances. Understanding its implications and potential misinterpretations helps ensure precise and impactful communication. Remember to use it to describe potentially long-term states of financial hardship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become penniless

Focuses on the state of having no money.

go bankrupt

Implies a formal declaration of financial insolvency.

lose everything

Highlights the complete loss of assets.

be left with nothing

Emphasizes the final state of having no resources.

fall into poverty

Describes a gradual descent into a state of being poor.

exhaust one's funds

Highlights the depletion of available money.

run out of money

Indicates the termination of financial resources.

be cleaned out

Suggests a complete and often forceful loss of money.

become insolvent

A more formal way of saying unable to pay debts.

be completely ruined

Focuses on the devastating consequences of financial loss.

FAQs

How to use "end up broke" in a sentence?

You can use "end up broke" to describe the consequence of poor financial decisions. For example, "If you keep spending like that, you'll "end up broke"."

What can I say instead of "end up broke"?

Alternatives include "become penniless", "go bankrupt", or "lose everything", depending on the context and the severity of the financial situation.

Is it correct to say "ended up broke"?

Yes, "ended up broke" is the past tense form and is grammatically correct. For example: "He "ended up broke" after the business failed."

What's the difference between "end up broke" and "go broke"?

"End up broke" implies a process or series of events that lead to being broke, while "go broke" is a more direct statement of becoming broke. The difference is subtle, but "end up" suggests a culmination of circumstances.