break the bank

phrase

: to be very expensive or too expensive : to cost a lot of money
usually used in negative statements
Buy a car that's dependable but won't break the bank.

Examples of break the bank in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, a lunch on or near the Grid doesn’t have to break the bank. Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 Everyday annoyances add up fast, but fixing them doesn’t have to break the bank. Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026 Taking the hassle out of feeding your family doesn't have to break the bank, either. Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 4 July 2026 Hybrids and fuel-sipping gas vehicles are great choices that probably won’t break the bank at the dealer or the pump. Chris Teague, AJC.com, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for break the bank

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Break the bank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20the%20bank. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster