"I'm broke" vs. "I don't have money"

[julee1029]

Hello,

If I want do say "I don't have money", Are 'I'm broke' and 'I don't have money' interchangeable?

For example, the context is as follows:

A: I'll buy this cheeseburger and fries. What about you?
B: I don't have money now. Could you buy some for me today?
A: All right.

As far as I know, 'I'm broke' can be used as the same meaning kind of "bankrupt or something" but "I don't have money" means simply "I don't have money right now or I don't bring money with me now"

Could you elaborate the difference for me?

Thanks in advance.

 

[José Manuel Rosón Bravo]

Hi julee1029,

They are different expressions.

As you say, “I don’t have money” means that you have no money at a certain moment or along a period of time.

On the other hand, when you are broke, you are lacking of funds, ruined or impoverished, in an advantageous financial situation, or you have been legally declared financially insolvent. You are bankrupted, as, for instance, Bernard Madoff and his unfortunate clients.

Understood?

Regards,

José Manuel Rosón Bravo

 

[Barb_D]

I could have a million dollars in my bank account but if I don't have any cash in my pocket and I don't have my bank card, I'd still need you to buy me lunch that day.

I wouldn't say "I'm broke" but I would say "I don't have any cash."

(Sadly, I don't have a million dollars.)

 

[sarat_106]

Interesting. In American English, the meanings are the same. If I'm broke it just means that I don't have any money - it has little to do with being bankrupt.

I agree. In India we too refer to being currently (but not necessarily permanently) out of money; you can say:
I don't have money and I'm broke till pay day.
If you want to express a condition of permanent bankruptcy, then say:
I have lost everything in business and forever gone broke.

 

[José Manuel Rosón Bravo]

Good morning,

I tried to list the different meanings of “broke”:

1.Lacking of funds at a certain moment.
2.Ruined, impoverished, or in advantageous financial situation.
3.Bankrupted.

----------------------------------------------------

ENCARTA DICTIONARY

Broke

1.Having no money: without any money to spend.
2.Bankrupt: totally bankrupt.

FREEDICTIONARY

Broke

1.Bankrupt.
2.Lacking funds
3 Completely without money

(Among others)

----------------------------------------------------

What I meant was that the term “broke” refers to certain situations that lead to the same result: you have no money. Because you are bankrupted or (informal) because you have no money till pay day (Sarat 106).

I understood that julee1029 referred to the situation described by Barb_D: the person in the restaurant has no money at that moment “...I don't have money now”).

In other case, if the person has no money because he has still not received his paycheck, etc. you could say “I have no money” or “I am broke” indistinctly.

Or at least that is what I think.

Regards,

José Manuel Rosón Bravo

 

[julee1029]

Hi julee1029,

They are different expressions.

As you say, “I don’t have money” means that you have no money at a certain moment or along a period of time.

On the other hand, when you are broke, you are lacking of funds, ruined or impoverished, in an advantageous financial situation, or you have been legally declared financially insolvent. You are bankrupted, as, for instance, Bernard Madoff and his unfortunate clients.

Understood?

Regards,

José Manuel Rosón Bravo

----Clearly understood. Thanks for the elaboration!!!!!