Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

you break it, you buy it

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.93 in modern English

Syllables: you break it, y-ou buy it
IPA

35

Scrabble Score

18

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

proverb

If you damage, harm or destroy something, you are responsible for repairing it or accepting the consequences.

proverb

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see break, buy.

Example Sentences

"In perhaps history's greatest instance of “you break it, you buy it,” the wartime imperial government bought millions of gallons of unused vodka."
"Diplomats need to make it clear that we completely eschew the "you break it, you buy it” rule. In the future, we'll break it if others force us to."

Etymology

From the Pottery Barn rule – a policy by which a retail store may hold a customer responsible for damage done to products or merchandise on display –, usually phrased in this manner.

Phrases

Pottery Barn rule

Frequently Paired Words

Pottery Barn rule

Questions

What does you break it, you buy it mean?: If you damage, harm or destroy something, you are responsible for repairing it or accepting the consequences.
Where does you break it, you buy it come from?: From the Pottery Barn rule – a policy by which a retail store may hold a customer responsible for damage done to products or merchandise on display –, usually phrased in this manner.

How to pronounce you break it, you buy it

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