make heavy weather of (something)

To make something harder or more laborious to do, especially more than is usual or necessary. The bill was passed two years ago, but the government has made heavy weather of implementing the law at a local level. The top-ranked team made heavy weather of what should have been a relatively easy win.

make heavy weather

see under heavy going.

make heavy weather of something

BRITISH

If someone makes heavy weather of a task, they behave as if the task is more difficult than it really is or take too much time doing it. She was carrying a bag of groceries behind her and making heavy weather of it. Milligan's troubled team made heavy weather of last night's draw at Stockport County. Note: Ships were said to make heavy weather when they handled badly and were difficult to control in rough seas.

See also: heavy, make, of, something, weather

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

make heavy weather (or work) of

have unnecessary difficulty in dealing with a task or problem. informal

In a nautical context, heavy weather means ‘violent wind accompanied by heavy rain or rough sea’.

make heavy ˈweather of something/of doing something

make something seem more difficult than it really is: You’re making very heavy weather of repairing that bike. What’s the problem? OPPOSITE: make light work of something

See also: heavy, make, of, something, weather

make heavy weather of

To exaggerate the difficulty of something to be done.