{"id":3589,"date":"2022-05-17T15:30:35","date_gmt":"2022-05-17T15:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=3589"},"modified":"2022-05-21T19:01:13","modified_gmt":"2022-05-21T19:01:13","slug":"go-for-broke-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/go-for-broke-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Go for Broke \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a motivating statement to tell someone to give it all they got? You can use the saying \u201cgo for broke<\/em>\u201d to tell them to throw caution to the wind in the hope of a big win. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

If you \u201cgo for broke<\/em>,\u201d it means that you will give your best effort to a task without the fear of risk or failure holding back your performance. The saying implies that there is a lot on the line or at stake for the person, and they need to succeed at all costs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Typically, it\u2019s a motivating statement to entice another person into reckless behavior where they place themselves in harm's way.<\/p>\n

If they experience an adverse outcome they don\u2019t expect, it could ruin them. It\u2019s a similar expression to \u201cswing for the fences<\/em>.\u201d However, \u201cto \u201cgo for broke<\/em>\u201d implies more at stake, possibly a monetary value.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s now or never, Mike; it\u2019s time to go for broke and give it everything you\u2019ve got. There\u2019s no chance we can win this unless you hit a home run.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to go for broke and try my luck with speaking to that guy at the bar. He\u2019s gorgeous, and I wonder if he\u2019s single?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time to go for broke. This is our last chance, and if we don\u2019t pull it off, the whole of humanity is at risk of the repercussions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s make a difference and really go for broke with this project. If we fall short, at least we can say we tried.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw that guy go for broke taking that jump. He knew he wouldn\u2019t make it, but he tried anyway. I gotta hand it to him. He\u2019s got skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201cgo for broke\u201d originates from the Hawaiian street game, Pidgin craps. During a game, players would bet everything they had on a single roll of the dice. It\u2019s similar to the technique of \u201cgoing all in\u201d in poker. When a player bets all their chips, the other players would say he was \u201cgoing for broke.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another possible origins story for this expression comes from the 1951 film of the same title. \u201cGo for Broke!\u201d was an action movie and a fairly big success at the box office. However, the phrase was in use before the film\u2019s release.<\/p>\n

It appears in print over a decade earlier in The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser<\/p>\n

newspapers in July 1935, as follows.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026decided to do things properly, and their favorite contractor was told to go for broke, as the saying is, and to do the place over from caves to the basement.\u201d<\/p>\n