broke as a joke

adjective

Completely broke; penniless.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

adjectivebroke as a joke (not comparable)
  1. informalnot comparableCompletely broke; penniless.

    And if you've ever been broke as a joke, you know that you'll do anything to save a buck.

    2016, Candace Moore, Namaslay (page 36)

Origin

Chosen for the rhyme.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

broke as a joke. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/broke%20as%20a%20joke

MLA

“broke as a joke.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/broke%20as%20a%20joke. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “broke as a joke,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/broke%20as%20a%20joke.

Source: broke as a joke on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.