go into hock

go into hock

To go into debt. "Hock" comes from hok, the Dutch word for "prison" or "debt." I picked a smaller, more affordable college so I didn't have to go into hock to get an education.
See also: go, hock
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

go into hock

go into debt. We will have to go into hock to buy a house. I go further into hock every time I use my credit card.
See also: go, hock
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • hock
  • be in hock
  • up to (one's) ears in debt
  • up to your ears in debt
  • head over heels in debt
  • in debt
  • (something) or no (something)
  • something or no something
  • out of debt
  • pay (one's) debt
References in periodicals archive
In a plea to the NHS to start offering the drug on prescription, he finished by saying: "We simply cannot tolerate a situation where hard-working mums and dads are having to go into hock to pay for these medications; it is an utter scandal."
Think about the ludicrous idea of Hearts fans advising each other on a forum that Tesco are doing 16 months interest-free on a credit card, so even if you can't afford the bail-out now, you can go into hock and stick it on the never-never.
Durant agreed that Town Hall is in desperate need of restoration, but "we don't want to go into hock to do it."
I go into hock to pay for my Duck Athletic Fund pledge and season ticket.
Big clubs will spend to stop Chelsea pulling away and smaller clubs will go into hock to stay in touch with the big clubs.
It's all very confusing when politicians lecture us about being thrifty and then encourage us to go into hock to maintain their beloved consumer boom.
Mindful of our envious print brethren, who may have fancied themselves as the next Andy Rooney, any editorial writer aspiring to see his or her mug on TV can accomplish this trick today without the publisher's having to go into hock to buy a television station or cable system.