go for broke

English

Etymology

From Hawaiian Pidgin craps slang, meaning “to wager everything on one roll”: one would be broke, i.e. bankrupt, if one lost.

Popularized by the movie Go for Broke! (1951), which is named for the 442nd Infantry Regiment’s unit motto.

Verb

go for broke

1. To wager everything.
2. (idiomatic) To try everything possible or do every last thing possible in a final attempt.

See also

• go for it
• here goes nothing