break even

present singular third person breaks even · participle present breaking even · past broke even · participle past broken even

1. idiomaticTo neither gain nor lose a quantity of something, (especially) money.

   After an entire night playing poker, he nearly broke even.

   2 more examples

   "How much energy did you gain from those attacks verses^([sic – meaning versus]) how much did you use to heal?" "It was a small net loss. Close enough that I basically broke even. The nose hurt more, but the knee required more energy to put back together."

   2021 August 30, Dave Barrack, Grrl Power (webcomic), Grrl Power #975 – Cheap kick

   The BTC had no clear plan how to fulfil its remit to break even, year-on-year.

   2023 March 8, David Clough, “The long road that led to Beeching”, in RAIL, number 978, page 43

2. idiomaticTo stay the same; to neither advance nor regress.

   It's a lot of work just to break even and keep the weeds down.