Plumb Broke
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Plumb Broke" means completely broke or having no money at all - a folksy intensifier phrase built from the regional word "plumb."
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #DialectandGrammar #Southern #MoneyWorkandChores
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you grew up down here, 'plumb broke' is part of your normal conversation. Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you grew up down here, 'plumb broke' is part of your normal conversation. Pronunciation
[PLUM BROKE] /plʌm broʊk/
Meaning & Usage
- Completely out of money (intensified adjective)
Jeb:
You want to go out to eat?
You want to go out to eat?
Martha:
Can’t - I’m plumb broke.
Can’t - I’m plumb broke.variations: Flat Broke, Dead Broke, Stone Broke, Plumb Out of Cash
★ The power of "plumb" as an intensifier turns "broke" into "flat broke" or "stone broke" times ten. Rural Southerners and Appalachians have used "plumb broke" for generations to emphasize being out of cash. ★
Origin and Etymology
Built from the regional intensifier "plumb" + "broke" meaning without money. This phrase reflects older English usage of "plumb" for "completely," kept alive in Southern/Appalachian speech.
Usage Notes
Still widely heard in rural and small-town Southern/Appalachian speech. Outside the region it sounds quaint or humorous but conveys the same meaning.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "plumb broke" - rhymes with "thumb broke," with "plumb" pronounced like "plum."
Kin Topics
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 22). Plumb Broke. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/plumb-broke
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Plumb Broke." HillbillySlang.com, 22 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/plumb-broke.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Plumb Broke." HillbillySlang.com. September 22, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/plumb-broke.
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