Idiom
break the bank
Meanings
To cost more than someone can afford; to use up too much money.
To be affordable (usually used in negatives, questions, or with words like 'won't').
Definition
To cost too much or use up more money than you can afford.
If something will break the bank, it is so expensive that paying for it would cause serious financial strain. People often use it to say a cost is more than they want or are able to spend. It can also be used in the negative to mean something is affordable.
Examples
- I’d love to join the trip, but the flights might break the bank.
- We found a good laptop that won’t break the bank.
- Rent in that neighborhood would break the bank for most students.
- You can cook a nice dinner without breaking the bank.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use it for non-money limits (like time or effort), but it refers specifically to money or cost.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idioms
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- close but no cigar Used to say someone almost succeeded but did not quite achieve the goal.
- down to the wire Used to say something is decided or finished only at the last possible moment.
- lost the plot To become confused or behave in a way that no longer makes sense.
- ducks in a row To have everything organized and ready for action.