weight

*a load off one's mind and *a weight off one's mind

Fig. the relief from a mental burden gained by saying what one is thinking or by speaking one's mind. (*Typically: get ~; take ~.) I think you'll feel better after you get a load off your mind.

See also: load, mind

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

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

carry the weight of the world on one's shoulders

Fig. to appear or behave as if burdened by all the problems in the whole world. Look at Tom. He appears to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Cheer up, Tom! You don't need to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.

See also: carry, shoulder, world

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

get some weight off one's feet

Fig. to sit down. Come in and get some weight off your feet. I need to sit down and get some weight off my feet.

See also: feet, get, some

give weight to something

Fig. to attach importance to something. I give a lot of weight to your opinion. Kelly gave no weight at all to the comments by Betty.

See also: give

have a weight problem

Euph. to be fat; to be overweight. He had a weight problem when he was a teenager, but he slimmed down once he started exercising. She has a weight problem, but she's a lovely woman.

See also: have, problem

put on weight

to gain weight; to get fat. I think I am putting on a little weight. I had better go on a diet. He has put on a lot of weight since last year.

See also: put

put weight on

Fig. to gain weight; to grow fat. The doctor says I need to put some weight on. I have to go on a diet because I've been putting on a little weight lately.

See also: put

put weight on some part of the body

to subject an injured body part, as a foot or knee, to the weight of standing, to test its strength. My doctor told me I can put weight on my broken leg next week.

See also: body, part, put, some

throw one's weight around

Fig. to attempt to boss people around; to give orders. The district manager came to our office and tried to throw his weight around, but no one paid any attention to him. Don't try to throw your weight around in this office. We know who our boss is.

See also: around, throw

weight someone or something down (with something)

to place a heavy weight in or on someone or something; to press down or hold down someone or something with a heavy weight. The inquisitors weighted the accused down with stones, but he still refused to say what they wanted. Karen weighted down the papers with an ornamental paperweight.

weight something against someone or something

to bias something against someone or something. The prosecutor tried to weight the evidence against the defendant. The police weighted the case against the accused company.

See also: against

work some fat off and work some weight off to

get rid of body fat by doing strenuous work. I was able to work a lot of weight off by jogging. I need to work off some fat.

See also: fat, some, work

worth its weight in gold

Fig. very valuable. This book is worth its weight in gold. Oh, Bill. You're wonderful. You're worth your weight in gold.

See also: gold, worth

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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

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 be a load off mind, carry weight, pull weight, throw weight around, throw your weight behind, have the cares of the world on 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 (often + with ) Her opinion carries a lot of weight with the boss.

See carry coals to Newcastle

See also: carry

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, have, 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 haul up by bootstraps, pull chain, make a face, get finger out, pull hair out, draw in horns, pick to pieces, bring up with a start

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/somebody

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 pour cold water on, throw in at the deep end, have a fit, throw hat in the ring, shed light on, feed to the lions, knock for a loop, throw in lot with, sling mud at, put off the scent, send into a tizz, throw to the wolves, put a spanner in the works

See also: behind, throw

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a load off your mind

a big problem you do not have to worry about any more Finally getting a job was a huge load off my mind.

Usage notes: sometimes used with real: I'm so relieved I don't have to give a speech - it's a real load off my mind.

See also: load, mind

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 somebody/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