broken-down valise
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A person who has fallen on hard times; a has-been.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
"In the football business there are so many sleazy bums — broken-down valises, I call them — who don't have two quarters to rub together," Bloom said.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “broken-down valise” mean?
A person who has fallen on hard times; a has-been.
Is “broken-down valise” formal or informal?
broken-down valise is generally slang.