When it comes to describing financial struggles or a lack of money, similes can add color and vividness to our language. Similes help paint a picture in the reader’s mind, transforming abstract ideas like being broke into something tangible and relatable. Instead of just saying someone is “broke,” using similes can create a more vivid and engaging description.
In this article, we will explore 31 unique similes for “broke,” each with examples and other creative ways to express financial hardship.
Similes for Broke
- As broke as a church mouse
Meaning: Describes someone with very little or no money.
Example Sentence:
“After paying all the bills, I was as broke as a church mouse, unable to afford anything else for the month.”
“He’s as broke as a church mouse, scraping by with just enough to get by.”
Other Ways to Say:- As poor as a beggar 🧑🦯
- As penniless as a pauper 👛
- As empty as a tin can 🥫
- As broke as the dawn
Meaning: Refers to someone whose finances are in a very bad state.
Example Sentence:
“She was as broke as the dawn, with nothing but a few coins to her name.”
“After paying for rent and groceries, I was as broke as the dawn, staring at an empty wallet.”
Other Ways to Say:- As poor as a field mouse 🐭
- As skint as a rag doll 🧸
- As thin as a dried-up riverbed 🌾
- As broke as a broken pencil
Meaning: Describes someone who is completely without money.
Example Sentence:
“After all the unexpected expenses, he was as broke as a broken pencil, with nothing left to spend.”
“I’m as broke as a broken pencil, all my funds snapped away by bills and debt.”
Other Ways to Say:- As flat as a pancake 🍽️
- As empty as a pocket in a ripped pair of jeans 👖
- As spent as a burnt match 🔥
- As broke as a forgotten coin
Meaning: Describes someone who has very little money, much like a coin that has been overlooked or lost.
Example Sentence:
“After losing my job, I was as broke as a forgotten coin, buried deep in the couch cushions.”
“I’m as broke as a forgotten coin, left with nothing but change rattling in the bottom of my purse.”
Other Ways to Say:- As empty as an old wallet 👜
- As poor as a dirt road 🌾
- As lean as a stripped-down car 🚗
- As broke as a garden in winter
Meaning: A state of financial ruin, similar to how a garden in winter lacks life or growth.
Example Sentence:
“He’s as broke as a garden in winter, nothing left to harvest or grow.”
“Her finances are as broke as a garden in winter, with no fresh income coming in.”
Other Ways to Say:- As barren as a desert 🌵
- As dry as a dust bowl 🌾
- As withered as autumn leaves 🍂
- As broke as a tear in a cloth
Meaning: Describes someone who has been torn apart financially, unable to make ends meet.
Example Sentence:
“I’m as broke as a tear in a cloth, every penny slipping through my fingers.”
“He was as broke as a tear in a cloth, his savings completely unraveled.”
Other Ways to Say:- As thin as paper 💌
- As fragile as a glass ornament 🎄
- As shredded as old documents 📑
- As broke as a stranded car
Meaning: Refers to being stuck in a situation where you have no resources or options, like a car that is out of gas.
Example Sentence:
“She was as broke as a stranded car, unable to move forward financially.”
“I’m as broke as a stranded car, stuck at the side of the road with no way to get by.”
Other Ways to Say:- As stuck as a traffic jam 🚗
- As blocked as a dead-end street 🛑
- As immobilized as a flat tire 🚲
- As broke as a paper bag
Meaning: Refers to someone who is completely devoid of resources, much like an empty paper bag.
Example Sentence:
“I was as broke as a paper bag after the shopping spree—nothing left but crumpled receipts.”
“She’s as broke as a paper bag, barely enough money to get through the week.”
Other Ways to Say:- As light as an empty box 📦
- As hollow as an empty jug 🏺
- As crushed as an old soda can 🥤
- As broke as a leaky faucet
Meaning: Refers to someone whose money keeps slipping away, like water leaking from a faucet.
Example Sentence:
“I’m as broke as a leaky faucet, money just dripping away faster than I can save.”
“Her finances are as broke as a leaky faucet, with every paycheck slipping through unnoticed.”
Other Ways to Say:- As leaky as a broken pipe 🚰
- As draining as an open drain 🌊
- As empty as a dried-up well 🏞️
- As broke as a cracked mirror
Meaning: Describes someone who is in a fragmented financial state, like a mirror that is no longer whole.
Example Sentence:
“I was as broke as a cracked mirror, every expense shattering my hopes for savings.”
“He’s as broke as a cracked mirror, his finances in pieces after the unexpected bills.”
Other Ways to Say:- As shattered as a dropped glass 🥂
- As fractured as a broken vase 🌸
- As splintered as a wooden plank 🪵
- As broke as a deflated balloon
Meaning: Refers to someone who feels flat or defeated, much like a balloon that has lost all its air.
Example Sentence:
“After the holidays, I was as broke as a deflated balloon, with nothing left to celebrate.”
“She was as broke as a deflated balloon, her bank account drained by surprise expenses.”
Other Ways to Say:- As empty as a popped tire 🛞
- As deflated as a soggy pillow 🛏️
- As lifeless as a wilted flower 🌻
- As broke as a torn shoelace
Meaning: Describes someone who is financially stretched thin, with very little left to work with.
Example Sentence:
“After the accident, I was as broke as a torn shoelace, struggling to pay for repairs and medical bills.”
“I feel as broke as a torn shoelace, like I’m always one step away from falling apart.”
Other Ways to Say:- As weak as a frayed cord 🧵
- As fragile as a paper clip 📎
- As split as a cracked screen 📱
- As broke as an empty piggy bank
Meaning: Describes a state where there is no money left to fall back on.
Example Sentence:
“After all the gift-giving, I was as broke as an empty piggy bank, with nothing but a few pennies to spare.”
“I’m as broke as an empty piggy bank, having spent every dime I earned this month.”
Other Ways to Say:- As drained as a coin jar 🪙
- As void as an empty wallet 👛
- As scraped as a bank account 🏦
- As broke as a collapsed bridge
Meaning: Describes someone who has hit rock bottom, like a bridge that can no longer support anything.
Example Sentence:
“She was as broke as a collapsed bridge, unable to make ends meet after the job loss.”
“I’m as broke as a collapsed bridge, everything crumbling with no way to rebuild.”
Other Ways to Say:- As wrecked as a fallen house 🏚️
- As broken as a shattered road 🛣️
- As fragmented as a ruined building 🏛️
- As broke as a barren tree
Meaning: Refers to someone in a state of financial desolation, much like a tree that has no leaves or life.
Example Sentence:
“I was as broke as a barren tree, with nothing growing in my savings account.”
“His finances were as broke as a barren tree, no new opportunities to make money.”
Other Ways to Say:- As dry as a dead plant 🌵
- As empty as a tree without fruit 🍏
- As hopeless as a withered vine 🍇
- As broke as a dried-out sponge
Meaning: Describes someone who is financially exhausted, much like a sponge with no more water to absorb.
Example Sentence:
“After months of struggling, I felt as broke as a dried-out sponge, with no more savings left to cushion the blow.”
“She was as broke as a dried-out sponge, her funds completely drained by the bills.”
Other Ways to Say:- As spent as an empty tank ⛽
- As drained as a squeezed lemon 🍋
- As used up as a paper towel 🧻
- As broke as a wilted flower
Meaning: Refers to someone who is financially exhausted and fading, like a flower that has lost its vibrancy.
Example Sentence:
“By the end of the month, I was as broke as a wilted flower, too tired to keep going.”
“I feel as broke as a wilted flower, my money fading away with each bill.”
Other Ways to Say:- As frail as a dying plant 🌿
- As empty as a dead bush 🌲
- As faded as a petal in fall 🍁
- As broke as an overdrawn account
Meaning: Describes someone whose finances have gone beyond their limits, much like a bank account with no funds left.
Example Sentence:
“After spending too much on my credit card, I’m as broke as an overdrawn account.”
“He was as broke as an overdrawn account, living off of borrowed money just to get by.”
Other Ways to Say:- As bankrupt as a defunct company 🏢
- As spent as a credit card maxed out 💳
- As depleted as an exhausted reserve 💰
- As broke as a withered leaf
Meaning: Refers to someone whose financial situation has dried up, similar to a leaf that has lost its vitality.
Example Sentence:
“She was as broke as a withered leaf, her funds shriveled up after all the expenses.”
“I’m as broke as a withered leaf, unable to find anything left to grab onto.”
Other Ways to Say:- As lifeless as a fallen branch 🌿
- As empty as a seedless fruit 🍓
- As barren as a dried-up garden 🌱
- As broke as a crumpled receipt
Meaning: Describes someone whose financial situation is in tatters, like a receipt that has been discarded.
Example Sentence:
“After buying all the necessities, I was as broke as a crumpled receipt, every cent spent.”
“His bank account was as broke as a crumpled receipt, too many expenses and too little to show for it.”
Other Ways to Say:- As torn as an old ticket 🎟️
- As faded as a worn-out coupon 🎫
- As worn as an old receipt 📜
- As broke as a cracked egg
Meaning: Describes someone whose finances are fragile and on the brink of breaking down.
Example Sentence:
“I was as broke as a cracked egg, my money slipping away piece by piece.”
“She’s as broke as a cracked egg, her savings falling apart like fragile shells.”
Other Ways to Say:- As fragile as a glass bottle 🍼
- As shattered as a porcelain cup ☕
- As broken as a fallen vase 🏺
- As broke as an abandoned car
Meaning: Describes someone whose finances are as neglected and empty as a car left to rust.
Example Sentence:
“After paying off my debts, I was as broke as an abandoned car, parked and forgotten.”
“He was as broke as an abandoned car, his money just left behind, unused and wasted.”
Other Ways to Say:- As rusted as a forgotten bicycle 🚲
- As worn-out as a used-up skateboard 🛹
- As empty as a wrecked van 🚐
- As broke as a torn ticket stub
Meaning: Describes someone whose finances are ripped apart, like a ticket stub that has been torn and discarded.
Example Sentence:
“By the end of the month, I was as broke as a torn ticket stub, every dollar gone.”
“He felt as broke as a torn ticket stub, with no way to get back to a comfortable place.”
Other Ways to Say:- As broken as an old ticket 🎟️
- As worn as a scratched-up CD 💿
- As torn as a worn-out paper 📜
- As broke as an old sofa
Meaning: Refers to someone whose finances are stretched thin, similar to a sofa that has been worn down and is no longer comfortable.
Example Sentence:
“I felt as broke as an old sofa, every penny spent and no cushion to lean on.”
“She was as broke as an old sofa, sinking into debt with no way to escape.”
Other Ways to Say:- As thin as a worn-out mattress 🛏️
- As faded as a tattered blanket 🛋️
- As frayed as a torn couch cushion 🪑
- As broke as a falling star
Meaning: Describes someone whose money is quickly disappearing, like a star burning out before it reaches the ground.
Example Sentence:
“My paycheck disappeared as fast as a falling star, and I was as broke as one before I knew it.”
“She was as broke as a falling star, her funds fading fast after so many unexpected costs.”
Other Ways to Say:- As fleeting as a disappearing comet 🌠
- As fast as a flickering lightbulb 💡
- As quick as a vanishing rainbow 🌈
- As broke as a ghost in a haunted house
Meaning: Refers to someone who is completely invisible or absent in their finances, like a ghost haunting an abandoned place.
Example Sentence:
“I was as broke as a ghost in a haunted house, no money left and no one to turn to.”
“His bank account was as broke as a ghost in a haunted house, no funds and no hope.”
Other Ways to Say:- As empty as a forgotten tombstone ⚰️
- As invisible as a specter 👻
- As lonely as a deserted mansion 🏚️
- As broke as a puddle after a storm
Meaning: Describes someone whose finances have evaporated quickly, like a puddle that disappears after a rainstorm.
Example Sentence:
“After paying all the bills, I was as broke as a puddle after a storm, with nothing left to hold onto.”
“She was as broke as a puddle after a storm, watching her savings vanish into the air.”
Other Ways to Say:- As drained as an empty river 🌊
- As dried up as a cracked desert 🌵
- As spent as a last drop of water 💧
- As broke as a coin slot in a vending machine
Meaning: Refers to someone whose finances are as empty as a coin slot in a vending machine waiting for change.
Example Sentence:
“I was as broke as a coin slot in a vending machine, no money left to buy anything.”
“He was as broke as a coin slot in a vending machine, not even enough to grab a snack.”
Other Ways to Say:- As empty as a cash register drawer 💸
- As void as a piggy bank without coins 🐖
- As depleted as an ATM without cash 🏧
- As broke as a dusty attic
Meaning: Describes someone whose financial situation is stagnant, like an attic filled with forgotten items and dust.
Example Sentence:
“Her bank account was as broke as a dusty attic, with nothing but cobwebs in it.”
“He felt as broke as a dusty attic, where everything was out of sight and forgotten.”
Other Ways to Say:- As forgotten as an old drawer 📚
- As desolate as an abandoned warehouse 🏚️
- As ignored as a neglected shelf 📦
- As broke as a torn calendar page
Meaning: Refers to someone whose finances are as fragmented as a calendar page that has been torn off.
Example Sentence:
“I was as broke as a torn calendar page, watching my savings slip away day by day.”
“His financial situation was as broke as a torn calendar page, with time running out to fix it.”
Other Ways to Say:- As discarded as an expired coupon 🎟️
- As spent as an old receipt 🧾
- As ruined as a weathered book 📖
- As broke as a forgotten library book
Meaning: Describes someone whose financial state is overlooked or neglected, much like a library book that’s been left behind.
Example Sentence:
“By the end of the month, I was as broke as a forgotten library book, lost and neglected.”
“She felt as broke as a forgotten library book, no funds and no way to borrow any more.”
Other Ways to Say:- As neglected as a dusty manuscript 📜
- As left behind as a missing library card 📚
- As lost as a misplaced textbook 📖
Practical Exercise: Similes for “Broke”
Objective: Match or create similes that describe the state of being broke. This will enhance creativity and improve descriptive writing skills.
Instructions:
Read each situation carefully.
Choose the most appropriate simile from the options provided.
Write the letter of the correct simile next to each situation number.
Situations:
A person who spent their last dollar on lunch.
a) As broke as a shattered mirror.
b) As broke as a kite without string.
c) As broke as a piggy bank after a child’s shopping spree.
A student who has no money left after paying for textbooks.
a) Like a car running on empty.
b) As broke as a joke with no punchline.
c) Like a riverbed during a drought.
A traveler who lost their wallet while on vacation.
a) As broke as a bird without wings.
b) Like a wallet without a single coin.
c) As broke as a ladder missing its steps.
A company that went bankrupt after poor investments.
a) Like a sinking ship with no rescue in sight.
b) As broke as a clock that’s stopped ticking.
c) As broke as a tree without its leaves.
An artist who spent all their savings on supplies.
a) Like a palette with no paint left.
b) As broke as an old chair missing a leg.
c) Like a canvas without any color.
A person borrowing money from friends for rent.
a) As broke as a stray dog searching for food.
b) Like a bridge that’s crumbling under pressure.
c) As broke as a jar with a missing lid.
A musician who can’t afford new strings for their guitar.
a) Like a guitar without its melody.
b) As broke as a song with no rhythm.
c) As broke as a band with no instruments.
A shopkeeper who has no sales for an entire week.
a) As broke as a store with empty shelves.
b) Like a bell that’s lost its ring.
c) As broke as a balloon that’s popped.
A family trying to stretch their last bit of money for groceries.
a) Like a threadbare blanket barely holding together.
b) As broke as a bird’s nest in a storm.
c) Like a bucket with too many holes to hold water.
A writer who has run out of funds to publish their book.
a) Like a story missing its ending.
b) As broke as a pen with no ink.
c) As broke as a candle that’s burned to the wick.
Answer Key (Example Similes):
c) As broke as a piggy bank after a child’s shopping spree.
b) As broke as a joke with no punchline.
b) Like a wallet without a single coin.
a) Like a sinking ship with no rescue in sight.
a) Like a palette with no paint left.
a) As broke as a stray dog searching for food.
c) As broke as a band with no instruments.
a) As broke as a store with empty shelves.
c) Like a bucket with too many holes to hold water.
b) As broke as a pen with no ink.
Conclusion:
Similes are a powerful tool for enhancing language, allowing writers to convey complex emotions and situations in vivid and relatable ways. When describing the feeling of being “broke,” these 31 creative similes provide diverse and imaginative expressions that capture the many nuances of financial hardship.
Whether you’re looking for humor, empathy, or a more dramatic tone, these similes can enrich your writing and communication. Don’t be afraid to experiment with similes in your own work – they can make even the most mundane moments more engaging and impactful. So, next time you’re describing being broke, try using one of these colorful similes to bring your message to life!
