A question about the proverb "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". What is the exact meaning of "broke" here: 1. Is it the past of break? (Shouldn't be broken though?!) 2. Or an adjective that means bus

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Mohammad K

Community Tutor

A question about the proverb "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". What is the exact meaning of "broke" here: 1. Is it the past of break? (Shouldn't be broken though?!) 2. Or an adjective that means busty or bankrupt?

Aug 31, 2020 9:09 AM

Answers · 18

It’s 1) the past tense of break. It’s deliberately grammatically incorrect, which is confusing for a non-native! It’s an informal phrase so shouldn’t be used in formal writing, but I’m sure you know that :)

August 31, 2020

“Ain’t broke” is dialect, used here in slang. “Isn’t broken” in standard English.

August 31, 2020

Some people say it’s archaic of break, but “if it ain’t break don’t fix ıt” just does not work in supposed modern English. Sounds like you are saying it’s broke before breaking ıt.

September 1, 2020

Mohammed the expression "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" means that if things are going well in your life and you are satisfied, don't add anything to mess it up. Keep thing the way they are.

August 31, 2020