Similes paint vivid pictures by comparing two unlike things using “like” or “as,” turning everyday ideas into colorful expressions. Describing financial hardship with similes adds humor, relatability, and flair to conversations or writing.
Whether you’re crafting a story, joking with friends, or spicing up an essay, these comparisons make the concept of being broke feel fresh and engaging.
From clever quips to heartfelt metaphors, this article unveils a treasure trove of similes that capture the essence of empty pockets. Read on to explore a vibrant list that’ll spark your creativity and leave you eager to weave these phrases into your next masterpiece!
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, relatable image. For example, “broke as a shattered piggy bank” instantly conveys financial struggle with a touch of humor.
Table of 5 Quick Similes
| Simile | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Broke as a shattered piggy bank | Completely out of money | After paying rent, I’m broke as a shattered piggy bank, with nothing left for groceries. |
| Penniless like a barren desert | Lacking any funds, empty | My wallet’s penniless like a barren desert, not a dime in sight. |
| Flat as a punctured tire | No money or resources left | My savings are flat as a punctured tire after that car repair. |
| Empty as a drained bucket | No cash or assets remaining | Her bank account is empty as a drained bucket after the holidays. |
| Skint like a peeled apple | Stripped of all money | I’m skint like a peeled apple, barely scraping by this month. |
Broke as a Shattered Piggy Bank
Meaning: Completely out of money, with savings scattered and gone.
Definition: No funds left, like a piggy bank smashed to pieces.
- Example 1: After paying rent, I’m broke as a shattered piggy bank, scrounging for change.
- Example 2: She felt broke as a shattered piggy bank when her card got declined at the store.
Penniless Like a Barren Desert
Meaning: Lacking any money, as desolate as a desert without water.
Definition: No cash or resources, utterly empty.
- Example 1: My wallet’s penniless like a barren desert after that vacation splurge.
- Example 2: He’s penniless like a barren desert, unable to afford even a coffee.
Flat as a Punctured Tire
Meaning: No money left, deflated like a tire with no air.
Definition: Financially drained, with nothing to keep going.
- Example 1: My bank account’s flat as a punctured tire after fixing my laptop.
- Example 2: She’s flat as a punctured tire, stuck with no cash for the week.
Empty as a Drained Bucket
Meaning: No money or resources, like a bucket with nothing left inside.
Definition: Completely out of funds, hollowed out.
- Example 1: After Christmas shopping, her account’s empty as a drained bucket.
- Example 2: He’s empty as a drained bucket, living off instant noodles.
Skint Like a Peeled Apple
Meaning: Stripped of all money, bare like an apple without its skin.
Definition: No cash left, exposed and vulnerable.
- Example 1: I’m skint like a peeled apple, with nothing to spare this month.
- Example 2: She’s skint like a peeled apple, borrowing lunch money again.
Destitute as a Tumbleweed Town
Meaning: Broke like an abandoned, desolate place.
Definition: No money, like a ghost town with nothing left.
- Example 1: My savings are destitute as a tumbleweed town after that medical bill.
- Example 2: He’s destitute as a tumbleweed town, scraping by on odd jobs.
Cashless Like a Dry Well
Meaning: No money flowing, like a well with no water.
Definition: Completely out of funds, dry and barren.
- Example 1: I’m cashless like a dry well, unable to pay for gas.
- Example 2: Her account’s cashless like a dry well after buying concert tickets.
Busted as a Broken Slot Machine
Meaning: No money left, like a slot machine that won’t pay out.
Definition: Financially broken, with no wins in sight.
- Example 1: After that shopping spree, I’m busted as a broken slot machine.
- Example 2: He’s busted as a broken slot machine, with no cash for drinks.
Strapped Like a Taped-Up Suitcase
Meaning: Tight on money, barely holding it together.
Definition: Financially constrained, patched up but broke.
- Example 1: I’m strapped like a taped-up suitcase, barely covering my bills.
- Example 2: She’s strapped like a taped-up suitcase, saving every penny.
Wiped Out Like a Crashed Hard Drive
Meaning: All money gone, like data erased from a drive.
Definition: Completely broke, with no financial backup.
- Example 1: My savings are wiped out like a crashed hard drive after that trip.
- Example 2: He’s wiped out like a crashed hard drive, starting from scratch.
Bare as a Winter Tree
Meaning: No money, like a tree stripped of leaves.
Definition: Financially empty, with nothing left to show.
- Example 1: My wallet’s bare as a winter tree after paying taxes.
- Example 2: She’s bare as a winter tree, with no cash for extras.
Drained Like a Dead Battery
Meaning: No money or energy left, like a battery with no charge.
Definition: Completely out of funds, unable to function.
- Example 1: I’m drained like a dead battery, with no money for fun.
- Example 2: His account’s drained like a dead battery after that repair bill.
Hollow as an Empty Safe
Meaning: No money left, like a safe with nothing inside.
Definition: Financially empty, with no reserves.
- Example 1: After rent, I’m hollow as an empty safe, scraping by.
- Example 2: She’s hollow as an empty safe, unable to buy groceries.
Cleaned Out Like a Robbed Vault
Meaning: All money gone, like a vault after a heist.
Definition: Completely broke, stripped of all funds.
- Example 1: My account’s cleaned out like a robbed vault after that purchase.
- Example 2: He’s cleaned out like a robbed vault, with no savings left.
Tapped Out Like a Dry Keg
Meaning: No money left, like a keg with no beer.
Definition: Financially exhausted, with nothing to pour.
- Example 1: I’m tapped out like a dry keg, unable to afford dinner.
- Example 2: She’s tapped out like a dry keg, living on leftovers.
Scraped Like a Bare Plate
Meaning: No money left, like a plate cleaned of food.
Definition: Completely broke, with nothing left to use.
- Example 1: My wallet’s scraped like a bare plate after paying debts.
- Example 2: He’s scraped like a bare plate, borrowing from friends.
Pinched Like a Worn Wallet
Meaning: Tight on cash, like a wallet squeezed thin.
Definition: Financially strained, with little left.
- Example 1: I’m pinched like a worn wallet, counting every cent.
- Example 2: She’s pinched like a worn wallet, skipping coffee runs.
Exhausted Like a Spent Candle
Meaning: No money left, burned out like a candle.
Definition: Financially depleted, with no spark left.
- Example 1: My savings are exhausted like a spent candle after that bill.
- Example 2: He’s exhausted like a spent candle, with no cash for fun.
Barren as a Dusty Trail
Meaning: No money, like a trail with no life.
Definition: Financially empty, with no resources.
- Example 1: I’m barren as a dusty trail, with no money for rent.
- Example 2: Her account’s barren as a dusty trail after shopping.
Squeezed Like a Dry Sponge
Meaning: No money left, like a sponge with no water.
Definition: Completely broke, with nothing to give.
- Example 1: My wallet’s squeezed like a dry sponge after that repair.
- Example 2: He’s squeezed like a dry sponge, unable to chip in.
Depleted Like a Mined-Out Quarry
Meaning: No money left, like a quarry stripped of stone.
Definition: Financially exhausted, with no reserves.
- Example 1: I’m depleted like a mined-out quarry, with no cash left.
- Example 2: She’s depleted like a mined-out quarry, living frugally.
Stranded Like a Beached Whale
Meaning: Stuck without money, like a whale on shore.
Definition: Financially immobile, with no way forward.
- Example 1: I’m stranded like a beached whale, unable to afford gas.
- Example 2: He’s stranded like a beached whale, stuck at home.
Worn Out Like a Threadbare Shirt
Meaning: No money, like a shirt falling apart.
Definition: Financially tattered, barely holding on.
- Example 1: My savings are worn out like a threadbare shirt this month.
- Example 2: She’s worn out like a threadbare shirt, with no extra cash.
Dry as a Burnt Toast
Meaning: No money left, like toast charred and useless.
Definition: Completely broke, with no value left.
- Example 1: I’m dry as a burnt toast, with no money for lunch.
- Example 2: His account’s dry as a burnt toast after that splurge.
Bleak Like a Cloudless Night
Meaning: No money, like a dark, empty sky.
Definition: Financially grim, with no hope in sight.
- Example 1: My wallet’s bleak like a cloudless night after bills.
- Example 2: She’s bleak like a cloudless night, with no cash flow.
Hollowed Like a Carved Pumpkin
Meaning: No money left, like a pumpkin scooped clean.
Definition: Financially empty, with nothing inside.
- Example 1: I’m hollowed like a carved pumpkin, with no savings left.
- Example 2: He’s hollowed like a carved pumpkin, scraping by daily.
Spent Like a Used Firecracker
Meaning: No money left, like a firecracker after it’s popped.
Definition: Financially exhausted, with no spark remaining.
- Example 1: My account’s spent like a used firecracker after that trip.
- Example 2: She’s spent like a used firecracker, with no cash for fun.
Stripped Like a Picked Orchard
Meaning: No money, like an orchard after harvest.
Definition: Completely broke, with no resources left.
- Example 1: I’m stripped like a picked orchard, with no money for bills.
- Example 2: He’s stripped like a picked orchard, living on scraps.
Gutted Like a Fish on Ice
Meaning: No money left, like a fish cleaned out.
Definition: Financially empty, with nothing remaining.
- Example 1: My wallet’s gutted like a fish on ice after that purchase.
- Example 2: She’s gutted like a fish on ice, with no savings.
Broke Like a Snapped String
Meaning: No money, like a guitar string that’s broken.
Definition: Financially useless, with no function left.
- Example 1: I’m broke like a snapped string, unable to play along.
- Example 2: His account’s broke like a snapped string, out of tune.
Crafting Stories with Similes
Similes for being broke can add color and emotion to your writing, whether you’re penning poems, stories, songs, or essays. Here’s how to weave them in:
- Poetry: Use similes like “broke as a shattered piggy bank” to evoke raw emotion. Pair with vivid imagery to create a poignant scene, like a barren wallet in a bustling city.
- Stories: Sprinkle similes in character dialogue or descriptions to show financial struggle. For example, “Her savings, flat as a punctured tire, left her stranded in despair.”
- Songs: Incorporate similes in lyrics for rhythm and relatability. “I’m penniless like a barren desert, chasing dreams with no coin” adds a catchy, heartfelt vibe.
- Essays: Use similes to make arguments vivid. Describing poverty as “empty as a drained bucket” can drive home the impact of financial hardship in a persuasive piece.
Vary simile placement to avoid overuse, and match the tone to your audience for maximum impact.
Unleashing Similes in Dialogue
In conversations or scripts, these similes make characters relatable or humorous. A line like “I’m skint like a peeled apple” can lighten a scene or show vulnerability. Use them sparingly in dialogue to sound natural, ensuring they fit the character’s voice and context.
Enhancing Descriptions with Similes
For descriptive passages, similes paint a clearer picture. Instead of saying “he had no money,” try “his wallet was barren as a dusty trail.” This adds depth and engages readers’ senses, making your prose more memorable and immersive.
Balancing Similes for Impact
Too many similes can overwhelm, so use them strategically. Aim for one or two per paragraph in creative writing, ensuring they enhance rather than distract. In essays, use them to emphasize key points without overshadowing facts. Test different similes to find the perfect fit for your tone and message.
FAQs
### Why are similes effective for describing being broke?
Similes make abstract concepts like financial struggle tangible, helping readers or listeners connect emotionally with vivid imagery.
### Can I use these similes in professional writing?
Yes, but choose similes that match the tone. For formal essays, use subtle ones like “broke as an empty wallet” to maintain professionalism.
### How do similes enhance creative writing?
Similes add color and relatability, making descriptions more engaging and helping readers visualize complex emotions or situations.
### Are these similes suitable for all audiences?
Most are universal, but some, like “broke as a burnt toast,” may feel informal. Adjust based on your audience’s preferences.
### Where can I find more simile inspiration?
Explore literature, song lyrics, or online resources like writing blogs for fresh similes, or create your own by observing everyday objects.
Wrapping Up with Creative Flair
Similes for being broke transform a tough topic into a canvas of vivid imagery. Whether you’re penning a poem, crafting a story, or spicing up an essay, these comparisons add humor, heart, and relatability.
Try weaving them into your work to captivate readers or spark conversations. In 2025, let your words shine by using these creative tools to express financial struggles with style and impact.
