stone broke

But the heroes of “The Beaux’ Stratagem” – two well-mannered but stone-broke gentlemen in search of marriageable heiresses – are far more respectful of the opposite sex than the love-‘em-and-leave-‘em 007 usually is.

However, when we got off the Dogger Bank we ran amongst a fleet of Hull trawlers; and I forsook the Swede for a British fishing-boat, which landed me at Hull, "stone-broke," in more ways than one.

Here, loudly proclaiming their passion for gaming, Our prodigal ancestors betted; Their shekels they squandered, and home again wandered, Stone-broke or profoundly indebted!

Bound by his betting-book, the cynic churl— With coarse-gemmed hands and greasy frontal curl, When fortune smiles, or frowsy when she frowns As wolfish waifs that haunt the slums of towns— Is brute all through and ever; blatant, base, "Rough" in his speech, and rascal in his face; A radiant rowdy now when some base stroke Of juggling skill has flushed him; now "stone-broke," Black-hearted, beetle-browed, true gaolbird type, Reeling and reeking, ever ruffian-ripe For any coward act of ruthless greed That craft may scheme, or violence may speed.

But a stone-broke Evans has lost her home.