English · Proverb Attested

you break it, you buy it

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

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

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Nếu bạn làm hỏng thứ gì, bạn phải chịu trách nhiệm sửa chữa hoặc chấp nhận hậu quả

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

In perhaps history's greatest instance of “you break it, you buy it,” the wartime imperial government bought millions of gallons of unused vodka.

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).

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

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

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Dùng ngoài nghĩa đen hoặc thành ngữ

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

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.

Is “you break it, you buy it” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.