pull (one's) own weight
(redirected from someone has pulled their own weight)pull (one's) own weight
To contribute to a group activity or project in proportion to one's abilities or role. If you don't pull your own weight, our presentation will never be finished on time.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
pull one's (own) weight, to
To do one’s share of the work. This term comes from rowing, where each member of a crew must pull on an oar at least hard enough to propel his or her own weight. The term was used figuratively from about 1900 on. In a 1902 speech, Theodore Roosevelt said, “The first requisite of a good citizen . . . is that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer