The phrase "goes in to hock" refers to someone pawning or selling something valuable to obtain money in times of financial hardship. The spelling of "hock" is pronounced as /hɑk/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The pronunciation is similar to "hawk", but the "w" sound is replaced with a hard "k" sound at the end. To use this phrase correctly, one might say, "When times are tough, you might need to go in to hock your jewelry or other possessions to make ends meet."
The expression "goes in to hock" is a colloquial idiomatic phrase that originated from the gambling world but is now commonly used to refer to financial situations. It implies someone being forced to pledge their possessions or assets as collateral to obtain a loan or repay debts owed.
When an individual "goes in to hock," it means that they are entering into a state of financial desperation and resorting to extreme measures to secure funds. The term "hock" is derived from the pawnbroking industry, where a valuable item is exchanged for a loan. In this context, the individual is metaphorically pawning their possessions to overcome monetary difficulties.
The phrase often suggests a sense of urgency and distress, as it implies that the person has exhausted all other options and is left with no choice but to risk their personal belongings. "Goes in to hock" emphasizes the potential consequences of financial instability, as the person in this situation may face the loss of valuable possessions if they are unable to repay the debt.
Overall, "goes in to hock" reflects a precarious state of affairs in which an individual is forced to enter into a binding financial agreement, surrendering their assets temporarily as a means to access funds or resolve debt-related issues.