Debt is a common aspect of modern life, affecting individuals and businesses alike. Understanding idioms that describe debt can provide deeper insights into conversations and literature. Here are 20 idioms that encapsulate various aspects of debt, each with a brief meaning and an example sentence.
Idioms That Describe Debt
1. In the red
Meaning: Owing money
Example: The company has been in the red for months.
2. Foot the bill
Meaning: Pay for something
Example: John had to foot the bill for the damages.
3. On credit
Meaning: Purchased with a promise to pay later
Example: She bought the car on credit.
4. Break the bank
Meaning: Use up all one’s money
Example: Their wedding didn’t break the bank.
5. Pay through the nose
Meaning: Pay a high price
Example: He paid through the nose for that car.
6. On a shoestring budget
Meaning: With very little money
Example: They traveled Europe on a shoestring budget.
7. A penny saved is a penny earned
Meaning: Saving money is as important as earning it
Example: My grandfather always said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
8. Hand to mouth
Meaning: Living with just enough money to survive
Example: They lived hand to mouth during the recession.
9. Burn a hole in one’s pocket
Meaning: Money that one wants to spend quickly
Example: The bonus burned a hole in his pocket.
10. Live beyond one’s means
Meaning: Spend more money than one earns
Example: She lives beyond her means with those designer clothes.
11. Tighten one’s belt
Meaning: Spend less money
Example: They had to tighten their belts after the job loss.
12. Make ends meet
Meaning: Manage financially
Example: It’s hard to make ends meet with rising prices.
13. In over one’s head
Meaning: In debt beyond the ability to pay
Example: He’s in over his head with those loans.
14. Owe an arm and a leg
Meaning: Owe a large amount of money
Example: She owes an arm and a leg in student loans.
15. In the hole
Meaning: In debt
Example: He’s in the hole after that gambling loss.
16. Up to one’s ears
Meaning: Deeply in debt
Example: They’re up to their ears in credit card debt.
17. Scrape by
Meaning: Barely manage financially
Example: They scrape by on his salary alone.
18. Drown in debt
Meaning: Overwhelmed by debt
Example: Many people are drowning in debt these days.
19. Behind on payments
Meaning: Late in paying debts
Example: He is behind on payments for his mortgage.
20. Debt trap
Meaning: Situation where debt is hard to escape
Example: Falling into a debt trap can be devastating.
