conviction

have the courage of (one's) convictions

To have the confidence to act or behave in accordance with one's beliefs or ideologies, especially in the face of resistance, criticism, or persecution. The governor was presented with a bribe to help the corporation avoid regulation, but she had the courage of her conviction to refuse such an offer.

See also: conviction, courage, have, of

courage of (one's) convictions

Strong faith or confidence in one's beliefs. Often used in the phrase "have the courage of one's convictions." I need to have the courage of my convictions any time I'm around my parents—they always try to dissuade me from pursuing a career as a screenwriter. I'm always impressed with Stella—nothing can shake the courage of her convictions in her crusade for social justice.

See also: conviction, courage, of

carry (a lot of) weight (with someone or something)

Fig. to be very influential with someone or some group of people. Your argument does not carry a lot of weight with me. The senator's testimony carried a lot of weight with the council.

See also: carry, weight

carry one's (own) weight

 and pull one's (own) weight

Fig. to do one's share; to earn one's keep. (The weight is the burden that is the responsibility of someone.) Tom, you must be more helpful around the house. We each have to carry our own weight. Bill, I'm afraid that you can't work here anymore. You just haven't been carrying your weight.

See also: carry, weight

carry weight (with someone)

Fig. to have influence with someone; [for an explanation] to amount to a good argument to use with someone. That carries a lot of weight with the older folks. What you say carries no weight with me.

See also: carry, weight

have the courage of one's convictions

to have enough courage and determination to carry out one's goals. It's fine to have noble goals in life and to believe in great things. If you don't have the courage of your convictions, you'll never reach your goals. Jane was successful because she had the courage of her convictions.

See also: conviction, courage, have, of

have the courage of your/its convictions

to do or say what you think is right no matter who disagrees with you He has the courage of his convictions to do what is right even when other disagree. “What is needed is a political party with the courage of its convictions,” Chad said.

Related vocabulary: stand up and be counted

See also: conviction, courage, have, of

carry weight

to be important and have influence Her opinion carries a lot of weight with the boss. A partnership without a written agreement carries no legal weight.

Usage notes: usually used with some, little, and other modifiers, as in the examples

See also: carry, weight

carry weight

if what you do or say carries weight with someone, it seems important to them and will influence what they do or think (often + with ) Her opinion carries a lot of weight with the boss.

See carry coals to Newcastle

See also: carry, weight

have the courage of your convictions

to have the confidence to do or say what you think is right even when other people disagree Have the courage of your convictions - don't go out to work if you feel your children need you at home.

See screw up courage

See also: conviction, courage, have, of

carry weight

Also, carry authority or conviction . Exert influence, authority, or persuasion, as in No matter what the President says, his words always carry weight. Shakespeare combined two of these expressions in Henry VIII (3:2): "Words cannot carry authority so weighty." [c. 1600]

See also: carry, weight

courage of one's convictions, have the

Behave according to one's beliefs. For example, Carl wouldn't give his best friend any of the test answers; he had the courage of his convictions . This expression is believed to have originated as a translation of the French le courage de son opinion ("the courage of his opinion"), dating from the mid-1800s and at first so used. By the late 1800s it had changed to the present form.

See also: courage, have, of

carry weight

verb

See carry an amount of weight

See also: carry, weight