stone-broke

[ stohn-brohk ]

adjective

1. having no money whatsoever.

Word History and Origins

Origin of stone-broke¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

But the heroes of “The Beaux’ Stratagem” – two well-mannered but stone-broke gentlemen in search of marriageable heiresses – are far more respectful of the opposite sex than the love-‘em-and-leave-‘em 007 usually is.

From New York Times

But here I am, desperately hard up—stone-broke, in fact.

From Project Gutenberg

Being stone-broke when you go on board doesn't matter if you ship forward; but aft, to start with bare pockets may get you a bad name.

From Project Gutenberg

I know it was a liberty—I made it out you were no business man, only a stone-broke painter; that half the time you didn’t know anything, anyway, particularly money and accounts.

From Project Gutenberg

"And you will always be hearing racing 'shop,' and how much somebody won, nobody ever talks about their losses until they are stone-broke."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• destitute
• impoverished
• indigent
• low
• meager
• needy
• penniless
• poverty-stricken
• underprivileged