[Idiom] BREAK EVEN. - Learn Essential Business English with Practical Idioms

Neither lose nor gain money.

Break even" is a straightforward financial term that has wandered into everyday language as an idiom. To break even means to neither lose money nor make a profit at the end of a business venture or transaction. It's like balancing perfectly on a seesaw, where the costs equal the income. Imagine hosting a garage sale where, at the end of the day, your earnings match exactly what you spent setting it up—that's breaking even.

Example Sentences

1. By the end of the fiscal year, the company managed to break even.

   The company neither made a profit nor a loss by the end of the year.

2. He sold enough tickets to break even on his investment.

   His ticket sales covered his initial investment, resulting in no financial gain or loss.

3. After all was said and done, they didn’t make a profit but at least they broke even.

   They managed to cover their costs, avoiding any profit or financial loss.