In the following idiom-based question, choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the phrase "to go for broke".

Introduction / Context:
Idiom questions test how well a learner understands figurative language. The phrase "to go for broke" is a common English idiom, especially in informal speech and writing. It is often used in sports, business, or personal situations where someone decides to make a maximum effort without holding anything back.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Idiom: "to go for broke."
• We must choose the option that explains its meaning in plain language.
• Options include ideas related to risk, failure, and business loss.

Concept / Approach:
The idiom "to go for broke" means to risk everything in order to achieve a big goal. It describes a situation where someone makes an all-out effort, even if there is a possibility of losing everything. It does not mean that the person has already lost everything or has gone bankrupt; rather, it emphasises complete commitment and willingness to accept high risk. Therefore, the correct paraphrase is "to risk everything in an all-out effort."

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Recall typical usage, such as "With only a few minutes left, the team decided to go for broke." Step 2: Understand that this implies putting in maximum effort and taking full risk, not gradual or cautious action. Step 3: Compare each option with this understanding. Option A directly mentions "risk everything in an all-out effort," which matches the idiom perfectly. Step 4: Note that other options focus on failure, loss, or bankruptcy, which are possible outcomes but not the core meaning of the idiom.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider another example: "He decided to go for broke and invest all his savings in the startup." This sentence highlights his choice to take a big risk, not the guaranteed result. If we replaced "go for broke" with "to risk everything in an all-out effort," the meaning remains almost identical. Replacing it with "to file for bankruptcy" or "to lose all money" would distort the original idea, since those describe outcomes rather than a decision to take a risk.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option B: "failure in a relationship or partnership" is unrelated to the idiom and focuses narrowly on one area of life. Option C: "losing all money in an effort to revive a failing business" describes a specific business failure, which is too narrow and represents a result, not the decision to take a risk. Option D: "to start again after failing in a business" refers more to resilience or a fresh start, not to taking a huge risk. Option E: "to file for bankruptcy after repeated losses" is a legal and financial step, not an idiomatic description of maximum effort.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse meanings that involve risk with meanings that involve confirmed loss. "Go for broke" is about choosing to risk everything, not about already having lost everything. Focusing on the decision and effort, rather than the outcome, will help in correctly interpreting such idioms.

Final Answer:
The idiom "to go for broke" means to risk everything in an all-out effort.