wiped out
39
7.1
- idiom
- Informal
:
arruinado
- Yeah, I think moving here definitely pretty much wiped out any savings I had.
Examples
-
However, if this was your one income source and it was wiped out in one single day...
Blog text (10) -
We're all pretty wiped out.
-
But a lifetime of good work can be wiped out by one unforgettable error.
Academic text (1996) -
During his first term, GDP fell 50 percent, income inequality and unemployment grew, and hyperinflation wiped out many families' savings.
Academic text (1996) -
After losing his job and facing unexpected expenses, he was completely wiped out financially.
-
The stock market crash left many investors wiped out after years of savings.
-
With all his investments gone, he felt utterly wiped out and unsure of his future.
Synonyms
237
1.8
Having no money
151
4.2
Not able to pay debts
50
6.2
People or places that have very little money and few things they need
20
6.5
Very poor and without basic things like food or a home
1
7.2
Having no money after a big loss
1
8.6
Having no money at all
Antonyms
How Broke
151
4.2
- Specialized
18
7.7
- Informal
39
7.1
- Informal
237
1.8
107
2.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'wipe' (to remove/erase) plus 'out' (completely/fully) gives a clear sense of total removal or destruction that a learner who knows the parts can infer. However, the specific figurative extension to financial ruin is metaphorical and context-dependent, so the exact meaning may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without exposure.
Etymology
Wiped out comes from the simple image of someone using a cloth to wipe a table or board until nothing is left, so the action of wipe plus out removes everything. That's why it now means 'ruined financially', as if all your money has been wiped away.