break the buck

break the buck

In US money market funds, to have the value of a company's individual shares fall below one dollar (in slang, referred to as a "buck"). During the recession, a great number of companies that broke the buck ended up closing altogether. If those shares do break the buck, there's a chance you'll end up losing the principal value. It's rare that money market funds break the buck, but, look out, because it can happen.

See also: break, buck

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

break the buck

To fall below the value of one dollar. Used of the net asset value of a mutual fund, especially a money market fund.

See also: break, buck

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.