1
general::
adj. VERBS be | become, go Hundreds of firms went bankrupt during the recession. | adjudge sb, adjudicate sb, declare sb, make sb She had to pay the mortgage after her husband was declared bankrupt. ADV. almost, nearly, virtually | economically, ideologically, morally (figurative) PREP. of (figurative) a government bankrupt of new ideas
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
3
general::
bankrupt
without any money and unable to pay your debts – used about a person or business that has to officially admit this and stop trading permanently:
• Many small businesses will go bankrupt unless interest rates fall. • He was declared bankrupt in the High Court yesterday.
be in financial difficulties
to have difficulty paying your bills and debts, often so that you are in danger of becoming bankrupt - used about people and businesses:
• The firm has been in financial difficulties for some time. • He was in financial difficulties and knew that he would have to sell his home.
go bust/go under
informal to become bankrupt and have to stop operating – used about a business:
• The supermarket isn’t there any more – it went bust ages ago. • During the last recession, dozens of businesses were going under every day.
insolvent
formal bankrupt - used about people and businesses:
• The bank was declared insolvent. • Directors of insolvent companies often ignore demands for payment. • Individuals becoming insolvent also jumped 9% to 9,470 in the third quarter.
Longman-Thesaurus