in debt

in debt

1. Literally, owing one money. A noun or pronoun can be used between "in" and "debt." That's what loan sharks do—they get you in debt and then squeeze you dry.
2. Owing one gratitude (or, more rarely, some form of compensation, such as a favor) for their help. A noun or pronoun can be used between "in" and "debt." Helen's the one who got me a job at that great company, so I'm forever in her debt.
See also: debt
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

in debt

having debts; having much debt; owing money. Mary is deeply in debt. I am in debt to the bank for my car loan.
See also: debt
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • pay (one's) debt
  • pay debt
  • in debt to (someone or something)
  • up to (one's) ears in debt
  • up to your ears in debt
  • head over heels in debt
  • be in (one's) debt
  • be in somebody's debt
  • debt
  • out of debt
References in periodicals archive
Graham (1996a) argues that this measure of new financing is better than the first difference in debt ratio, as when there is no change in total liabilities but there is a change in total assets, our measure of new debt financing still correctly measures the zero change (but the first difference in debt ratio does not).
More importantly, it is the level of property insurance that matters in debt financing decisions rather than the change in property insurance.
(26) Using the estimated regression coefficient of lagged INS, the estimated mean increase in debt ratio is 0.94%, the mean annual tax saving attributable to more debt financing is 2.84 million yuan, and this savings contributes 0.12% to firm value (in the manner of computing Q 1).
Hedging affecting firm value via financing and investment: evidence from property insurance use