The term means to risk everything for a potentially large gain. The result is “gone broke,” or bankrupt if the risk fails. Money lenders in the 15th Century worked on benches, and their bench was literally broken if they lost all their money. The term “broken bench” was shortened to “broke,” and was first recorded in the 1550s. The U.S. Army 442nd Infantry unit was formed from Japanese Americans during WWII, and many of them were from Hawaii. The unit adopted the motto “Go For Broke,” from Hawaiian gambling slang popular at the time. They were awarded the largest number of medals ever awarded to a single unit.