Aug 15, 2005 14:23
18 yrs ago
English term
fareedeh ghassemi (X)
burn it
English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Please tell me what does mean"when they pay off the mortgage; they burn it"?
You know what people do when they pay off the mortgage; they burn it on the front lawn.
You know what people do when they pay off the mortgage; they burn it on the front lawn.
Responses
| 1 +14 | they burn the papers as if it was a ceremonial ritual |
Kirill Semenov
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Change log
Aug 15, 2005 14:31: Kirill Semenov changed "Level" from "Non-PRO" to "PRO"
Mar 14, 2007 17:25: Kirill Semenov changed "Field" from "Bus/Financial" to "Art/Literary"
Responses
+14
7 mins
Kirill Semenov
Ukraine
Ukraine
Works in field
Ukraine
60+ books translated and published
Native in: Russian 
Works in: English to Russian, Russian
Related KudoZ points
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8
Selected
they burn the papers as if it was a ceremonial ritual
I suppose that after paying a mortgage, people usually go outside and throw the papers into fire. Kinda ritual to feel they are free from any obligations from now on.
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Note added at 15 mins (2005-08-15 14:38:35 GMT)
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In a less literal manner, I think that after paying a mortgage off people usually throw the mortgage papers away or into a dustbin. Feeling an ease while doing so ;-)
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Note added at 15 mins (2005-08-15 14:38:35 GMT)
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In a less literal manner, I think that after paying a mortgage off people usually throw the mortgage papers away or into a dustbin. Feeling an ease while doing so ;-)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Can Altinbay
: I don't know how many people literally do this, but the term has come to mean to get it paid off. You should up your confidence level on this one.//You write more native than many I've seen who have no qualms about being confident of nonsense answers.
4 mins
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Can, I'm not a native speaker, so I usually try to keep my confidence level objective so that to not be "burned" my natives' knowledge ;-)
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| agree |
Terence Ajbro
: what do they do if they decide to sell the house afterwards, won't they need the papers!?
5 mins
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if their mortgage is paid off, then probably they don't brun in fire their papers on their ownership rights on the house :)
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| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
10 mins
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| agree |
Balaban Cerit
: Here it explains that "burning the mortgage" was a tradition: http://www.bankerandtradesman.com/pub/3_28/editorial/ - "mortgage buttons" are also related to this tradition.
11 mins
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nice link, thank you :)
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| agree |
jennifer newsome (X)
16 mins
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| agree |
jccantrell
: Yep, burn the mortgage papers to show you own the house free and clear (except for the TAX man, of course!).
18 mins
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tax man is a perennial problem, but otherwise it's a "AT LAST!" feeling, I believe :)
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| agree |
RHELLER
: I wouldn't take this literally - just an expression to mean it's over and done with
30 mins
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yes, but Balaban's link shows this is sort of a tradition in some places. Anyway, I totally agree, in all cases it's a symbol of doing away with those long-time obligations :)
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| agree |
rangepost
39 mins
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| agree |
Jack Doughty
: Can't remember what I did with mine, but I was certainly glad to get it paid off!
54 mins
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no doubts you were :) My very belated congratulations ;-)
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| agree |
Refugio
2 hrs
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| agree |
ahmadwadan.com
2 hrs
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| agree |
Saiwai Translation Services
12 hrs
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| agree |
Nick Lingris
: Oh yes! Mortgage burning parties. Probaby not as popular as housewarming parties, and people probably just burn copies of the mortgage papers, if anything at all, but they are still on!
20 hrs
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a very nice reason for a party, sure :)
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| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
1 day 4 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
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