busted valise
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A person who has run out of money
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The sources described the natty Pomeranz as a fast talker but "a phony" and "a real busted valise" whose checks had a strong elastic snap to them.
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).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A person who has lost power or abilities; a has-been
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “busted valise” mean?
A person who has run out of money
Is “busted valise” formal or informal?
busted valise is generally slang.