a millstone around/round somebody's neck

millstone around (one's) neck

A heavy burden. I wish I hadn't bought that house—the mortgage is a millstone around my neck.

See also: around, millstone, neck

a millstone around/round somebody’s ˈneck

something which limits your freedom or makes you worry: My debts are a millstone round my neck.A millstone is a very large heavy flat stone used to crush grain to make flour. This phrase refers to an old form of punishing people by tying a heavy stone around their necks and dropping them into deep water to drown.

See also: around, millstone, neck, round