John is flat broke.

[angliholic]

John was flat broke.



Does the above mean he was totally/dead broke? Thanks.

[IvanV]

It's informal speech.
Flat broke - completely penniless, stone broke, can't-be-more-broke.

Flat in this 'slang-form' means completely, downright, totally.

[angliholic]

Thanks, Ivan.

[BobK]

....
Flat in this 'slang-f[or]m' means completely, downright, totally.

It's similar to the flat in 'I asked her, but she turned me down flat.'

b

[angliholic]

Thanks, Bob, for the extra precous info.

[IvanV]

BobK, thanks for noting the typo... ;)
It's corrected!