house poor
In financial difficulty because of the excessive cost of owning a house, or because the cost of home ownership forms too high a proportion of household income.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“They are house poor because their mortgage payments are too high.”
“After buying that expensive property, they are house poor and cannot afford to go on vacation.”
“Despite their impressive salaries, the couple became house poor, finding themselves with little disposable income after meeting the substantial monthly obligations of their mortgage.”
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basket house
A cafe or similar establishment where musical performances are given and the performers are then paid with money placed in a basket by members of the audience.
- 02
bet the house
Synonym of bet the farm.
- 03
bottom the house
To clean a house from top to bottom; to clean a house extremely thoroughly.
- 04
bring down the house
To garner enthusiastic or wild applause or laughter.
- 05
eat someone out of house and home
To consume so much of someone's store of food that little or none is left for the owner.
- 06
go around the houses
Do something (especially talking) circuitously.
- 07
have a poor time of it
Synonym of have a rough time of it (especially financially)
- 08
house cooling party
A party to celebrate when a person decides to leave a house or flat, and sometimes to help prepare the space for the incoming residents.
Last updated August 10, 2026