Similes paint pictures with words, comparing two unlike things using “like” or “as” to spark imagination. Describing financial hardship with similes can turn a tough topic into something relatable, even poetic. Being “broke” is more than just an empty wallet—it’s a feeling many know too well.
This article unveils a treasure trove of creative similes to capture that state of financial struggle. Whether you’re a writer, poet, or just curious, these expressions will inspire you to see “broke” in a new light. Keep reading to uncover fresh ways to describe that empty-pocket vibe and make your words unforgettable.
Quick Definition of a Simile
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using “like” or “as” to create a vivid image. For example, “broke as a shattered glass” shows financial ruin through a striking comparison.
Table of 5 Quick Similes
| Simile | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Broke as a shattered glass | Completely out of money, like broken glass that can’t hold anything. | She’s broke as a shattered glass, unable to afford even a coffee. |
| Poor as a church mouse | Having little to no money, like a mouse with nothing in a bare church. | He’s poor as a church mouse, scraping by on crumbs. |
| Flat as a punctured tire | No money left, like a tire with no air. | After bills, I’m flat as a punctured tire this month. |
| Empty as a dry well | No funds available, like a well with no water. | My bank account’s empty as a dry well after that trip. |
| Bare as a leafless tree | Lacking money, like a tree stripped of leaves. | She’s bare as a leafless tree, with nothing to spare. |
Broke as a Shattered Glass
Meaning: Completely out of money, like glass broken into useless pieces.
Definition: No funds left, resembling a glass that can’t hold anything.
- After paying rent, he’s broke as a shattered glass, unable to buy groceries.
- She’s broke as a shattered glass, dreaming of luxuries she can’t touch.
Poor as a Church Mouse
Meaning: Having minimal money, like a mouse in a sparse church.
Definition: Scarcely any funds, scraping by like a mouse on crumbs.
- He’s poor as a church mouse, saving pennies for a meal.
- Living poor as a church mouse, she mends old clothes to save cash.
Flat as a Punctured Tire
Meaning: No money left, like a tire deflated and useless.
Definition: Financially drained, similar to a tire with no air.
- After the car repair, I’m flat as a punctured tire.
- She’s flat as a punctured tire, unable to join friends for dinner.
Empty as a Dry Well
Meaning: No money available, like a well with no water.
Definition: Bank account depleted, mirroring a waterless well.
- My wallet’s empty as a dry well after holiday shopping.
- He’s empty as a dry well, borrowing for bus fare.
Bare as a Leafless Tree
Meaning: Lacking funds, like a tree without leaves.
Definition: No money, resembling a barren tree in winter.
- She’s bare as a leafless tree, with no savings left.
- After taxes, he’s bare as a leafless tree, starting from zero.
Drained as a Squeezed Lemon
Meaning: All money spent, like a lemon with no juice left.
Definition: Financially exhausted, similar to a fully squeezed lemon.
- After the wedding, they’re drained as a squeezed lemon.
- He’s drained as a squeezed lemon, with no cash for extras.
Hollow as an Empty Drum
Meaning: No money, like a drum that echoes with emptiness.
Definition: Bankrupt, resembling a drum with nothing inside.
- My account’s hollow as an empty drum this month.
- She’s hollow as an empty drum, unable to buy new shoes.
Skint as a Shaved Peach
Meaning: Completely out of cash, like a peach stripped of fuzz.
Definition: No money left, bare like a shaved fruit.
- He’s skint as a shaved peach, relying on free meals.
- After rent, she’s skint as a shaved peach, with nothing left.
Destitute as a Deserted Town
Meaning: No money, like a town abandoned and empty.
Definition: Financially barren, similar to a ghost town.
- He’s destitute as a deserted town, with no funds to rebuild.
- She’s destitute as a deserted town, dreaming of better days.
Penniless as a Worn-Out Shoe
Meaning: No money, like a shoe too tattered to use.
Definition: Broke, resembling a useless, worn shoe.
- After repairs, he’s penniless as a worn-out shoe.
- She’s penniless as a worn-out shoe, walking miles to save fare.
Strapped as a Tied Rope
Meaning: Financially bound, like a rope tightly knotted.
Definition: No cash available, stuck like a secured rope.
- He’s strapped as a tied rope, unable to splurge.
- After bills, she’s strapped as a tied rope, budgeting tightly.
Barren as a Dusty Field
Meaning: No money, like a field with no crops.
Definition: Financially empty, similar to a lifeless field.
- My savings are barren as a dusty field this year.
- She’s barren as a dusty field, with no cash to plant dreams.
Cleaned Out as a Vacant Lot
Meaning: No funds left, like a lot cleared of everything.
Definition: Completely broke, resembling an empty plot.
- After taxes, he’s cleaned out as a vacant lot.
- She’s cleaned out as a vacant lot, starting from scratch.
Tapped Out as a Dry Tap
Meaning: No money left, like a faucet with no water.
Definition: Financially exhausted, like a tap with no flow.
- He’s tapped out as a dry tap after car repairs.
- My account’s tapped out as a dry tap this week.
Busted as a Broken Clock
Meaning: No money, like a clock that no longer works.
Definition: Financially broken, similar to a stopped clock.
- She’s busted as a broken clock, unable to afford repairs.
- He’s busted as a broken clock, stuck in a financial rut.
Wiped Out as a Washed Shore
Meaning: All money gone, like a shore cleared by waves.
Definition: No funds, resembling a beach swept clean.
- After vacation, I’m wiped out as a washed shore.
- She’s wiped out as a washed shore, with no savings left.
Scrapped as an Old Car
Meaning: No money, like a car too broken to drive.
Definition: Financially useless, similar to a junked vehicle.
- He’s scrapped as an old car, barely getting by.
- After bills, she’s scrapped as an old car, out of options.
Dry as a Burnt Toast
Meaning: No money left, like toast charred and useless.
Definition: Financially depleted, resembling overcooked bread.
- My wallet’s dry as a burnt toast this month.
- She’s dry as a burnt toast, unable to buy dinner.
Depleted as a Mined-Out Quarry
Meaning: No funds, like a quarry with no resources left.
Definition: Completely broke, similar to an exhausted quarry.
- He’s depleted as a mined-out quarry after taxes.
- Her savings are depleted as a mined-out quarry, gone for good.
Bleak as a Winter Sky
Meaning: No money, like a gray, lifeless sky.
Definition: Financially grim, resembling a cold, empty sky.
- My finances are bleak as a winter sky this season.
- She’s bleak as a winter sky, with no cash to brighten her day.
Exhausted as a Used Battery
Meaning: No money left, like a battery with no charge.
Definition: Financially drained, similar to a dead battery.
- He’s exhausted as a used battery, unable to power through.
- After rent, she’s exhausted as a used battery, out of energy.
Stripped as a Bare Wall
Meaning: No funds, like a wall with no decor.
Definition: Completely broke, resembling an empty wall.
- My account’s stripped as a bare wall this month.
- She’s stripped as a bare wall, with no money for extras.
Ruined as a Fallen Castle
Meaning: No money, like a castle crumbled to rubble.
Definition: Financially broken, similar to a destroyed fortress.
- He’s ruined as a fallen castle, with no wealth to rebuild.
- After debt, she’s ruined as a fallen castle, starting over.
Sunk as a Leaky Boat
Meaning: No money, like a boat sinking from holes.
Definition: Financially drowning, resembling a failing vessel.
- My savings are sunk as a leaky boat this year.
- She’s sunk as a leaky boat, struggling to stay afloat.
Withered as a Dead Plant
Meaning: No funds, like a plant dried up and lifeless.
Definition: Financially barren, similar to a wilted plant.
- He’s withered as a dead plant, with no cash to grow.
- After bills, she’s withered as a dead plant, out of resources.
Gone as a Faded Dream
Meaning: No money left, like a dream that’s vanished.
Definition: Financially empty, resembling a lost dream.
- My savings are gone as a faded dream this month.
- She’s gone as a faded dream, with no funds for hopes.
Hollowed as an Empty Shell
Meaning: No money, like a shell with nothing inside.
Definition: Completely broke, similar to a vacant shell.
- He’s hollowed as an empty shell, scraping by daily.
- After taxes, she’s hollowed as an empty shell, out of cash.
Frayed as an Old Rope
Meaning: No funds, like a rope worn and useless.
Definition: Financially broken, resembling a tattered rope.
- My budget’s frayed as an old rope this season.
- She’s frayed as an old rope, barely holding it together.
Wasted as a Burned Field
Meaning: No money, like a field scorched and barren.
Definition: Financially empty, similar to a destroyed field.
- He’s wasted as a burned field, with no savings left.
- After debt, she’s wasted as a burned field, starting anew.
Lost as a Drained Lake
Meaning: No funds, like a lake dried up completely.
Definition: Financially gone, resembling an empty lake.
- My account’s lost as a drained lake this month.
- She’s lost as a drained lake, with no money to refill.
Crafting Vivid Stories with Similes
Similes bring color to writing, making financial struggles relatable and vivid. In poetry, use similes like “broke as a shattered glass” to evoke raw emotion—pair with imagery of cracked dreams. For stories, weave similes into character descriptions, like a protagonist “poor as a church mouse,” to deepen empathy. In songs, rhythmic similes like “flat as a punctured tire” create catchy, relatable lines. For essays, similes clarify complex ideas—describe economic hardship as “empty as a dry well” to make arguments stick. Experiment by mixing similes with metaphors or varying their placement for impact.
Boosting Creativity with Simile Techniques
To make similes shine, keep them fresh and specific. Avoid clichĂ©s by inventing unique comparisons, like “tapped out as a dry tap.” Match the simile’s tone to your piece—somber for serious essays, playful for light stories. Test similes in drafts to ensure they resonate with readers. Use them sparingly to avoid overwhelming the narrative, letting each simile enhance the emotional or visual effect.
Enhancing Writing Flow with Similes
Incorporate similes naturally to maintain flow. Place them in descriptive passages or dialogue for authenticity, like a character saying, “I’m bare as a leafless tree.” Vary sentence structure to keep readers engaged—short similes for punchy moments, longer ones for reflective scenes. Always align similes with your theme to reinforce the story’s message, ensuring they feel organic, not forced.
FAQs
### What is a simile in simple terms?
A simile compares two different things using “like” or “as” to create a vivid image.
### How can similes improve my writing?
Similes add color and clarity, making descriptions memorable and emotions relatable.
### Are these similes suitable for formal writing?
Yes, when used sparingly, similes like “empty as a dry well” can enhance essays or reports.
### Where can I use similes about being broke?
Use them in stories, poems, songs, or essays to vividly describe financial struggles.
### Can I create my own similes for broke?
Absolutely! Combine unique images, like “broke as a cracked piggy bank,” for originality.
Conclusion
Similes transform the concept of being broke into vivid, relatable imagery, enriching any piece of writing.
From poetry to essays, these comparisons add depth and emotion, making your words resonate.
Try weaving these similes into your next project to captivate readers and bring financial struggles to life.
Let your creativity soar, and paint your stories with these powerful expressions.
