breaking even

Zero net gain

Breaking even is ending with neither profit nor loss—recovering exactly what was invested or spent.

A business breaks even when revenues match costs: We broke even in our first year.

The phrase extends beyond finance to any situation where gains and losses cancel out: After all the drama, I'd say we're breaking even.

Related

cutting losses · making ends meet · marginal cost · equilibrium · overhead · recoup · net income · budgeting · profit margin · wash · bottom line · trade-offs · fixed costs · gross income · opportunity cost · operational efficiency · variable costs · zero-sum game

Categories
Opposites
financial outcome

breaking evengoing bankrupt

Legally insolvent status

making a killing · in the red · profiting · in the black · profitable

success/failure spectrum

breaking eventhriving

Succeeding vigorously

failing · tanking · going under · floundering · going bust

Family

break, even, broken, breaks, breaker, breakers, breakage, breaking, unbroken

Familiarity
Top 50,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G