go-for-broke
UK[ˌɡəʊ fə ˈbrəʊk]US[ˌɡoʊ fər ˈbroʊk]
adj
Describing a willingness to risk everything in an all-out effort to achieve success.
idiom
To risk everything in a determined attempt to achieve a goal.
Etymology
The phrase "go for broke" originated in the world of gambling, specifically from the game of dice. The literal meaning was to stake all of one's money ("go" for being completely "broke" or bankrupt) on a single roll or hand. It was popularized and entered broader American English during World War II by Japanese-American soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, who used it as their motto to signify their commitment to an all-out effort. Over time, the phrase evolved from its literal gambling context into a widely used idiom describing any situation where one is willing to risk total failure for the chance of a major success, embodying a spirit of decisive, high-stakes commitment.
Analysis
This is a fixed idiomatic phrase. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into individual morphemes that contribute to its modern figurative sense without losing the idiom's integrity. The phrase functions as a single lexical unit.
Examples
The company decided on a go-for-broke strategy, investing all its remaining capital in the new product launch.
In the final minutes of the game, the team abandoned their defensive play and went for broke with an aggressive offensive push.
It's a go-for-broke attitude that separates true entrepreneurs from the rest.