carey street: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, somewhat historical/dated
Quick answer
What does “carey street” mean?
A metonym for bankruptcy or financial ruin, historically referring to the location of the London Bankruptcy Court.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A metonym for bankruptcy or financial ruin, historically referring to the location of the London Bankruptcy Court.
A state of severe financial insolvency or destitution; to be 'in Carey Street' means to be bankrupt.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is exclusively British (and primarily UK). It is not used in American English, where terms like 'Chapter 11' or 'bankruptcy court' are used literally. Americans would not understand the reference.
Connotations
In UK English, it carries a slightly euphemistic, almost darkly humorous or genteel connotation for a serious situation. It can sound dated.
Frequency
Very rare in contemporary UK usage, mostly found in older legal/financial journalism or historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “carey street” in a Sentence
BE in Carey StreetEND UP in Carey StreetLAND in Carey StreetFEAR Carey StreetVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “carey street” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not used as a verb)
American English
- (Not applicable)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not applicable)
adjective
British English
- (Rarely adjectival) The Carey Street fate awaited the reckless investor.
- They were in a Carey Street situation.
American English
- (Not applicable)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally to refer to a company's bankruptcy, e.g., 'If we don't secure funding, we'll be in Carey Street by Christmas.'
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical, legal, or economic texts discussing 19th/20th century British bankruptcy.
Everyday
Very rare. An older person might use it colloquially to mean 'broke'.
Technical
Not used in modern legal/technical jargon. It's a colloquial metonym, not a formal term.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “carey street”
- Using it as a verb ('He was Carey Streeted').
- Using it without the definite article 'in' ('He is Carey Street').
- Assuming it is current/common in all Englishes.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is very rare and considered somewhat dated or historical. You are most likely to encounter it in older books, films, or articles.
No, it is a specifically British cultural reference. An American audience would not understand it without explanation.
Yes, almost exclusively. The preposition 'in' is integral to the idiom.
It is a street in London, near the Royal Courts of Justice. The Bankruptcy Court was located there from 1842 to 1883, which is the origin of the phrase.
A metonym for bankruptcy or financial ruin, historically referring to the location of the London Bankruptcy Court.
Carey street is usually informal, somewhat historical/dated in register.
Carey street: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkeəri striːt/, and in American English it is pronounced Not applicable / term not used.. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be in Carey Street”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a street (Carey Street) where every house has a 'For Sale' sign and people are moving out with empty pockets. That's the street of bankruptcy.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINANCIAL FAILURE IS A DESTINATION/LOCATION (you 'end up' or are 'in' Carey Street).
Practice
Quiz
What does the expression 'to be in Carey Street' mean?