weight (redirected from thrown weight behind)

be a load/weight off your mind

if something is a weight off your mind, you have been worrying about it and you are pleased that the problem has now been solved. I'm so relieved I don't have to give a speech - it's a real load off my mind.

See also: load, mind

be a weight off your shoulders

if something is a weight off your shoulders, you are happy that you do not have to worry about it or feel responsible for it any more. If you could take over the job of organizing the party, that would be a tremendous weight off my shoulders.

See also: shoulder

be worth its/your weight in gold

to be extremely useful or valuable. A book that could tell me in simple language how to use this computer would be worth its weight in gold. Really good experienced singers are worth their weight in gold to the choir.

See also: gold, worth

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. Her opinion carries a lot of weight with the boss. (often + with)

See also: carry

a dead weight

1. if someone is a dead weight, they are very heavy and difficult to carry, often because they are not conscious. Tom was a dead weight and her muscles ached as she carried him upstairs.

2. something or someone who prevents other people from making progress. We must free ourselves from the dead weight of history. She's just a dead weight on the business at the moment.

See also: dead

have the cares/weight of the world on your shoulders

if you look or feel as if you have the cares of the world on your shoulders, you look or feel very worried or sad. I've never seen such a change in anyone. He looks as if he's got the cares of the world on his shoulders.

See also: care, shoulder, world

pull your weight

to work as hard as other people in a group. The rest of the team complained that Sarah wasn't pulling her weight.

See also: pull

throw your weight around

to behave in a way which shows that you are more important or powerful than other people. He tries to impress the rest of us by throwing his weight around at committee meetings.

See also: around, throw

throw your weight behind something/someone

to use your power and influence to support something or someone. If we could persuade the chairman to throw his weight behind the plan, it would have a much better chance of success.

See also: behind, throw

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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

pull your weight

to do your fair share of work. In a busy restaurant, everyone has to pull their weight.

See also: pull

throw your weight around

to use your position or influence to unfairly get what you want. Most of the time the department manager just throws his weight around to remind you he can always fire you.

See also: around, throw

throw your weight behind someone/something

to use your influence to support someone or something. A number of top performers have thrown their weight behind a live concert to fight hunger around the world.

See also: behind, throw

worth your/its weight in gold

extremely useful or valuable. User-friendly software is worth its weight in gold. Experienced singers are worth their weight in gold because they bring strength to the choir.

Etymology: based on the idea that gold is the most valuable metal

See also: gold, worth