debt

Related to debt: Debt Financing, Debt relief

be in (one's) debt

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

debt to nature

euphemism Death. When I'm ready to pay my debt to nature, I hope I'm surrounded by my family.
See also: debt, nature

get into debt

To come to be in a position of owing money to someone or something (such as a bank or other lending institution). If you spend more with your credit cards than you can reasonably pay off, you'll get into debt before you know it.
See also: debt, get

head over heels in debt

Having amassed a large amount of debt. After I graduated from law school, I found myself head over heels in debt. If you don't curtail your credit card spending, you'll be head over heels in debt before you know it.
See also: debt, head, heel, over

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

in debt to (someone or something)

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

make good on (something)

To fulfill an obligation, such as keeping a promise or paying a debt. You better make good on all the things you said you would deliver, or the client is not going to be happy. Trust me, I always make good on my debts, OK?
See also: good, make, on

out of debt

No longer having a debt owed to one or more other people, corporations, banks, etc. It feels so good to finally be out of debt. Now I can finally start a meaningful savings account. I know that they've been struggling to get out of debt for years.
See also: debt, of, out

out of debt, out of danger

One will drastically improve one's life if one can pay off debts owed to other people, corporations, banks, etc. You'd do well to pay your credit cards off as soon as you can. Out of debt, out of danger, as they say.
See also: danger, of, out

owe (one) a debt of gratitude

To be extremely thankful or grateful to one for something one did. I owe my parents a debt of gratitude for all their support over the years. Without them, there's no way I could have gotten where I am today. She really went above and beyond to help me get set up in this city, so I owe her a huge debt of gratitude.
See also: debt, gratitude, of, owe

owe a debt of gratitude to (someone)

To be extremely thankful or grateful to one for something one did. I owe a debt of gratitude to my parents for all their support over the years. Without them, there's no way I could have gotten where I am today. She really went above and beyond to help me get set up in this city, so I owe a huge debt of gratitude to her.
See also: debt, gratitude, of, owe

pay (one's) debt

1. To repay some or all of the money one owes to someone else. A noun or pronoun can be used between "(one's) and "debt" to specify the type of debt one has accrued. I only won about $5,000 in the lottery, but it was enough to pay my credit card debt. I'm gonna be paying my student loan debt for nearly 20 years.
2. To serve the sentence given to one upon conviction of a crime. Often followed by "to society." In the eyes of the law, he has paid his debt to society, so he shouldn't be facing any further punishment for his past crimes. I spent nearly 15 years in prison—I paid my debt!
See also: debt, pay

pay (one's) debt to society

To serve the sentence given to one upon conviction of a crime. In the eyes of the law, he has paid his debt to society, so he shouldn't be facing any further punishment for his past crimes. I spent nearly 15 years in prison—I paid my debt to society!
See also: debt, pay, society

run into debt

To come to be in a position of owing money to someone or something (such as a bank or other lending institution). If you spend more with your credit cards than you can reasonably pay off, you'll run into debt before you know it.
See also: debt, run

up to (one's) ears in debt

Having an excessive or overwhelming amount of debt. Our cash flow is good, but we're up to our ears in debt, which is a big strain on the company. You'll be up to your ears in debt if you don't stop charging everything.
See also: debt, ear, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

head over heels in debt

Fig. deeply in debt. Finally, when she was head over heels in debt, she cut up her credit cards. I couldn't stand being head over heels in debt, so I always pay off my bills immediately.
See also: debt, head, heel, over

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

*out of debt

no longer owing a debt. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; get oneself ~.) I've taken a second job so I can get myself out of debt.
See also: debt, of, out

owe someone a debt of gratitude

a large amount of thanks owed to someone who deserves gratitude. (Actually payment of the debt is owed.) We owe you a debt of gratitude for all you have done for us.
See also: debt, gratitude, of, owe

pay one's debt (to society)

Cliché to serve a sentence for a crime, usually in prison. The judge said that Mr. Simpson had to pay his debt to society. Mr. Brown paid his debt in state prison.
See also: debt, pay
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

up to your ears in debt

If you are up to your ears in debt, you owe a lot of money. Tom was still up to his ears in debt with no prospect of work.
See also: debt, ear, up
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

be in somebody’s ˈdebt

(formal) be very grateful to somebody because they have helped you: After my divorce Ann was the only one prepared to listen to my problems, and I am forever in her debt.
See also: debt

ˌget/ˌrun into ˈdebt

begin to owe money: After she lost her job, she began to run into debt.
See also: debt, get, run
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be in (one's) debt
  • be in somebody's debt
  • IOU1
  • owe (one) a debt of gratitude
  • owe a debt of gratitude
  • owe a debt of gratitude to (someone)
  • owing
  • gratitude
  • I owe you one
  • owe (one) one
References in periodicals archive
The liabilities that the PTI government added in the past one year were not part of the central government's total debt of Rs31.8 trillion.
Public debt skyrockets to Rs31.8tr in FY19
However, the content related to Rwanda requires factual correction on two points: Rwanda's debt sustainability and the level of Chinese investment in Rwanda.
Rwanda dismisses as false reporting on its debt with China
The net debt-to-GDP ratio nets out the national government's cash balance from the country's debt level.
Fears of forthcoming PHL debt crisis 'unfounded,' DOF assures
The following are the top 10 counties with the least credit card debt:1.
Hunterdon county has lowest credit card debt, survey says
Mary's College of Maryland carried the least debt upon graduation.
Report: Md. students graduated with more debt in 2017 than 2016
Total Debt and Liabilities (sum I to IX)###24,178.80###25,109.30###25,857.50###26,844.60###28,297.40
Economic Indicator Of Pakistan
Debt Consolidation -- Debt consolidation is a form of debt refinancing that cam entail taking out one loan to pay off many others.
National Debt Relief Program Discusses Today's Debt Help Options
Indicators of debt burden, such as the ratio of debt to liquid assets and the ratio of debt to total income, also increased.
Rising Debt Levels among Near-Retirees
The data further shows that external debt was recorded at $72.98bn on June 30 this year, out of which $61.36bn was public debt, Public Sector Enterprises (PSE) guaranteed debt stood at $1,27mn, PSE non-guaranteed debt was $1,48mn.
National debt, liabilities cross Rs2.2 trillion
57% of public four-year college students with debt (2010-2011)
The business of selling debt
Moody's has also assigned a (p)B2 global local-currency debt rating and a Aa2.ar national scale debt rating on the Argentine national scale to two Rombo's ARS 1,000 million MTN multicurrency debt programs.
Moody's assigns first-time ratings to Rombo Compania Financiera S.A
The Report presents a detailed analysis of India's external debt position at end-March 2013, based on the data released by the Reserve Bank of India on June 27, 2013.
Finance Ministry bringing out detailed analysis of India's external debt position
1.1663(a)(2)(i) provide that, when satisfied that a bona fide debt (as defined in Regs.
The bad-debt reserve: opportunity for partial current deduction
Q A I'm a college student seeking advice on how to get out of credit card debt. My debt total is $2,000.
A goal or two