喜樂美語

核心畫面

Broke is what 'break' becomes once it has happened — the broken state. From the plain past tense ('something came apart yesterday') grows a money picture: a person who is 'broken' in the wallet has no cash left. Around that money picture sit a few set phrases — going broke, going for broke, and 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.

broke 可以想成 break「已經發生之後」的樣子——壞掉、斷掉的那個狀態。從最素的過去式（「昨天某個東西斷了、…更多收起broke 可以想成 break「已經發生之後」的樣子——壞掉、斷掉的那個狀態。從最素的過去式（「昨天某個東西斷了、壞了」）長出一個跟錢有關的畫面：一個人錢包「破了」，就是身上一毛不剩。再從這個「沒錢」的畫面，圍出幾個固定片語——go broke、go for broke、還有 if it ain't broke, don't fix it。

From the picture

錢包破了：沒錢

把「破掉、斷掉」這個狀態搬到錢上：人若是 broke，就像錢包破了個洞、東西漏光了，身上一毛不剩。從「壞掉」到「身無分文」，靠的就是這個「被掏空、撐不下去」的畫面。

having no money · adjective · A2

Having no money, or almost none, right now.

沒錢、身無分文

幾個固定片語

這兩句已經凝固成整塊的俗語，意思離「沒錢」有點遠了，當成現成的口語記下來最省事，不必硬從錢包去推。

go for broke · adjective · B2

In the phrase 'go for broke' — to take a big risk and try as hard as you can to get what you want.

（go for broke）孤注一擲、全力一搏

Also in this word

past tense of break · verb · A1

The past tense of 'break' — used when something came apart, stopped working, or a rule was not kept, before now.

break 的過去式

原始詞典資料12 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

Brokename

  • 1

    A locality in the Singleton council area, eastern New South Wales, Australia.

brokeadj詞源 1/ˈbɹəʊ̯k/

  • 1

    informalFinancially ruined, bankrupt.

    • He was broke after spending all his money into video games.
    • It seems some of his Creditors have taken notice of it, and he was like to be broke yesterday in his absence.
  • 2

    informalWithout any money, penniless.

    • dead broke; flat broke
  • 3

    archaicinformalBroken.

    • If it ain’t broke, don't fix it.
    • If the farmer is seriously injured by the depressed state of the markets, his spirit is broke, and there must ensue a very general discredit with regard to the farming business;
  • 4

    governmentmilitarynavalDemoted, deprived of a commission.

    • He was broke and rendered unfit to serve His Majesty at sea.

brokenoun詞源 2/ˈbɹəʊ̯k/

  • 1

    artscraftshobbiesPaper or board that is discarded and repulped during the manufacturing process.

    • If the broke accumulates, a larger proportion can be used in making coloured papers, otherwise the above quantity is sufiicient.
    • Presumably, most of the brokes and waste were used up in this manner, and during the manufacture of the coarse stuff little or no attention was paid to either cleanliness or colour.
  • 2

    obsoleteA fragment, remains, a piece broken off.

    • Why dost though linger, then, / To hear the flatteries of these men of rags? / These bankrupt beggar-men, / Whose riches are the broke meat in their bags?

brokeverb詞源 3/ˈbɹəʊ̯k/

  • 1

    To act as a broker; to transact business for another; synonym of broker.

    • Agents broking with various other carriers can offer additional options.
    • The only evidence of bill-broking is, that he has often been a party to bills of exchange
  • 2

    obsoleteTo act as procurer in love matters; to pimp.

    • But we do want a certain necessary / Woman, to broke between them CUPID said;
    • And brokes with all that can in such a suit / Corrupt the tender honour of a maid.

brokeadj詞源 4/ˈbɹəʊ̯k/

  • 1

    slangBroke off, rich, wealthy

這個拼法也被記錄為下列字的變化形：

資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。