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humpty-dumpty

noun, often capitalized H&D hump·ty-dump·ty \ ¦həm(p)tē¦dəm(p)tē , -ti...ti \

Definition of humpty-dumpty

plural -es
: something that once damaged can never be repaired or made operative again
  • the exchange crisis … that brought the Humpty-Dumpty of currency stabilization tumbling
  • —Atlantic
  • people fled into their suddenly Humpty-Dumpty world
  • —Robert O'Brien

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Origin and Etymology of humpty-dumpty

after Humpty-Dumpty, egg-shaped nursery-rhyme character who fell from a wall and broke into bits

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