Go for broke means to risk everything, to put everything on the line. Go for broke was made popular by the 1951 American film, Go for Broke! The film depicted the 442nd Infantry Regiment of the United States, a regiment composed entirely of Japanese-Americans. The motto of the 442nd Infantry Regiment was Go for broke, and they did indeed put everything on the line. For its size and length of service, the 442nd Infantry Regiment was the most decorated military unit in American history, winning 9,486 Purple Heart medals. Interestingly, the phrase go for broke has its origins in Hawaiian Pidgin gambling parlance, meaning to wager everything on one roll of the dice in the game craps. Related phrases are goes for broke, going for broke and went for broke.
Examples
In larger tournaments, you must go for broke and take a risk with “high-ceiling” players who could be a boom or a bust. (The Los Angeles Times)
And then, fellow producer Aline Brosh McKenna convinced her to go for broke and star in the musical comedy. (The Quad City Times)
It’s a great moment which sums up what the filmmakers do so well throughout, pay homage to classic Bond moments from the past (in this case train punch-ups in From Russia With Love and The Spy Who Loved me) but put a fresh spin on them and go for broke with the action and intensity. (The Daily Express)
Then, there’s MS Dhoni, Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina who’ve raised their game just when it mattered, ensuring the two teams go for broke at the Wankhede on Sunday. (The Times of India)
ZANU-PF insiders told the Financial Gazette that ambitious G40 members, most of them former allies of Mnangagwa, are going for broke and appear to have the support of two critical organs of the party, namely the Youth League and the Women’s League, although the First Lady, Grace Mugabe, is still to be presented with the proposals. (The Financial Gazette)
Floriana went for broke in a bid to put the result beyond their opponents’ reach. (The Times of Malta)
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