heavy

A heavy purse makes a light heart.

Prov. If you have plenty of money, you will feel happy and secure. Everyone in the office is especially cheerful on payday, since a heavy purse makes a light heart.

See also: heart, light, make, purse

Every horse thinks its own pack heaviest.

Prov. Everyone thinks he or she has the hardest work to do or the most difficult problems to overcome. When we were growing up, my sister and I each thought our own chores were harder than the other's. Every horse thinks its own pack heaviest.

See also: every, horse, pack, think

heavy going

difficult to do, understand, or make progress with. Jim finds math heavy going. Talking to Mary is heavy going. She has nothing interesting to say.

See also: going

heavy into someone or something

Inf. much concerned with someone or something; obsessed with someone or something. Freddie was heavy into auto racing and always went to the races. Sam is heavy into Mary. He's been out with her every night this week.

hot and heavy

Fig. referring to serious passion or emotions. Things were getting a little hot and heavy so Ellen asked to be taken home. The movie had one hot and heavy scene after another. Pretty soon it got to be a joke.

See also: and, hot

light purse makes a heavy heart

Prov. If you do not have enough money, you will worry and be unhappy. Nathan is a cheerful person by nature, but since he lost his job, worry has made him glum. A light purse makes a heavy heart.

See also: heart, light, make, purse

play the heavy

Fig. to act the part of a mean person; to do the unpleasant tasks that no one else wants to do. (Refers originally to playing the role of someone evil in a movie, etc.) I'm a nice guy, but at work, I am required to play the heavy. The boss makes me do all the cruel things.

See also: play

Time hangs heavy on someone's hands.

Prov. Time seems to go slowly when one has nothing to do. (Note the variations in the examples.) I don't like it when time hangs so heavily on my hands. John looks so bored. Time hangs heavy on his hands.

See also: hand, hang, time

with a heavy heart

Cliché sadly. With a heavy heart, she said good-bye. We left our summer cottage on the last day with a heavy heart.

See also: heart

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a heavy date  (American & Australian humorous)

a planned meeting between two people who are very interested in having a romantic or sexual relationship I think Carol has a heavy date - she's been in the bathroom for over an hour.

See also: date

a heavy hitter  (American)

someone who is powerful and has achieved a lot Have you seen his resumé? He's a real heavy hitter.

be heavy going 

1. if something, especially something you read, is heavy going, it is not easy or enjoyable The first half of the novel is rather heavy going, but don't give up.

2. if someone is heavy going, they are boring Please don't make me sit next to Dennis at the party. I find him really heavy going.

See also: going

be on the [expensive/heavy/large etc.] side

to be a little too expensive, heavy, large etc. It's a really good restaurant - it's on the expensive side, mind. I really like the table but I think it's a bit on the large side for our room.

See also: side

have a heavy foot  (American informal)

to drive a car too fast She has a heavy foot - does the trip in half the time it takes me! (American informal)

See also: foot, have

heavy petting

the activity of kissing and touching someone sexually That baby couldn't be mine. We never got further than some heavy petting.

heavy-duty  (American & Australian informal)

complicated and very serious (always before noun) Studies show that the homeless develop some heavy-duty health problems living on the streets.

heavy-handed 

1. if you try to control someone or something in a heavy-handed way, you use more force than is necessary or suitable His heavy-handed style of management is extremely unpopular.

2. if an attempt to tell or teach someone something is heavy-handed, it is too obvious The theme of drug abuse is treated in a way that is convincing without being heavy-handed.

hot and heavy  (American informal)

if something or someone is hot and heavy, they are full of strong emotions or sexual feelings Guess who I saw getting hot and heavy on the dance floor? Television news coverage of the fighting has been hot and heavy.

See also: and, hot

make heavy weather of something/doing something   (British & Australian)

to take a longer time than necessary to do something He's making heavy weather of writing his report - Ingrid finished hers days ago.

See also: make, weather

time hangs/lies heavy (on somebody's hands)

if time hangs heavy, it seems to pass slowly because you do not have enough to do Time hangs heavy on your hands in prison.

See also: hang, time

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hot and heavy

full of very strong feelings The argument is still going hot and heavy about whether genetically modified foods are safe to eat.

See also: and, hot