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millstone

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look through a millstone

To have exceptional powers of perception. A millstone is opaque and thus is impossible to see through. I knew he was a dishonest person the minute I met him. I can look through a millstone, you know.

See also: look, millstone

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

weep millstones

Said hyperbolically of one who is deemed so cold and indifferent as to be unable to cry tears. I've never seen Claire show any emotion—in fact, she probably weeps millstones. Why didn't you comfort that poor little girl? Do you weep millstones?

See also: millstone, weep

millstone about one's neck

a continual burden or handicap. This huge and expensive house is a millstone about my neck. Bill's inability to control his temper is a millstone about his neck.

See also: millstone, neck

a millstone around your neck

a problem or responsibility that you have all the time which prevents you from doing what you want

Usage notes: A millstone is a large stone that is very heavy.

I'd rather not be in debt - I don't want that millstone around my neck.

See also: around, millstone, neck

millstone around one's neck

A heavy burden, as in Julie finds Grandma, who is crabby, a millstone around her neck. The literal hanging of a millstone about the neck is mentioned as a punishment in the New Testament (Matthew 18:6), causing the miscreant to be drowned. Its present figurative use was first recorded in a history of the Quakers (c. 1720).

See also: around, millstone, neck