ENGLISH
REFERENCE

anaconda mortgage

idiom
Meaning

A loan arrangement in which all of the money borrowed from a lender, for whatever purpose, is secured by one's home, land, and other property.


Origin

disputed origin

An allusion to being trapped in the crushing coils of a large constrictor snake, such as an anaconda, suggesting the crushing burden of such debt.

Examples
SIMPLE

They signed an anaconda mortgage to cover their new business loan.

CONTEXTUAL

The bank required an anaconda mortgage, meaning the couple had to use their house as security for all their debts.

COMPLEX

Before agreeing to the terms, the lawyer warned that an anaconda mortgage would place the family's entire property portfolio at risk if they defaulted on any single loan.

Anchors to

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