Bankruptcy

They used to break the bench on which a financial man of business stood and hawked his wares, in the loggia behind the Porcellino in the centre of rinascimento Florence, when he could not meet his commitments. Hence bankrupt.

The co-owner of the area's posh restaurant had what is locally known as a good bankruptcy. He had transferred his property to his wife when his gold dealings met a bad end with gold price volatility. A good bankruptcy is the removal of all assets from creditors' reach before nemesis strikes. Unfortunately he didn't have a good wife. She has made off with house and restaurant and filed for divorce. He has left for Thailand to remake his fortune, in what has not been discovered - yet.