英语词源
millstone around one’s neck沉重的负担
该短语指沉重的负担或责任。如：
He didn’t want his debts to become a millstone around the neck of his son.
他不希望他的债务成为儿子沉重的负担。
millstone即磨石，是磨坊中用来碾磨玉米等谷物的一对沉重的圆形石块。对于这样的物体，不要说当作一条璀璨的项链戴在脖子上，就是提都提不起来。在《圣经·马太福音》第18章第6节中有这样的描述：
‘But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.’
“凡使这信我的一个小子跌倒的，倒不如把大磨石拴在这人的颈项上，扔在海里。”
——摘自《单词的历史：英语词源漫谈》
