take the weight off

USAGE SUMMARY

"take the weight off" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about relieving a burden or responsibility from someone or yourself. For example, "I need to take the weight off my shoulders and take a break."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Health

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

economy the most in the first half, and now that they're down, that should take the weight off," said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics.

Huffington Post

Take the weight off your… arghhh!

The Guardian

"Take the weight off your feet.

The New Yorker

But at least it'll take the weight off your feet".

Independent

They happily take the weight off the system and invest in private services.

The Guardian

If Lynette inclined against him, she could take the weight off her ankle.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

It kind of takes the weight off".

The New York Times - Health

Once Mr. Filan took the weight off, he had to live without the attention and coddling; he had to handle criticism and questions about why he was not eating.

The New York Times - Health

This took the weight off quite a bit and Huw, the IT technician, was a wonder putting everything into place, including having the words on a screen behind the camera.

The Guardian

"What I've done over the last 10 months is I've just watched what I eat, work out, and slowly but surely I'm taking the weight off," he said.

The New York Times

When it reaches, zero, take the weights off or open the vent.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take the weight off" to refer to emotional burdens, consider pairing it with "shoulders" to create a more vivid and relatable image, such as "take the weight off my shoulders."

Common error

Avoid using "take the weight off" when you actually mean to completely eliminate a problem. The phrase suggests a reduction, not a total removal, of the burden.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "take the weight off" is as a phrasal verb. It often acts as a transitive verb when used with an object, as seen in the examples from Ludwig. Ludwig AI confirms this usage as correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Health

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take the weight off" is a versatile phrasal verb used to describe the easing of a physical or emotional burden. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as in more informal settings like wikis. The phrase functions to convey relief and reduction of pressure, whether it be literal or figurative. To ensure effective communication, it's important to understand the scope of the phrase and avoid using it when complete elimination of a problem is intended. Consider using it with "shoulders" for more vivid imagery and exploring related phrases to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Take some pressure off

Similar meaning but more casual.

Lighten the load

Emphasizes reducing the amount of work or stress.

Relieve the stress

Specifically targets the reduction of stress or anxiety.

Reduce the pressure

Highlights diminishing the intensity of demands or expectations.

Ease the strain

Implies reducing tension or difficulty in a situation.

Alleviate the burden

Focuses on easing a heavy load or responsibility.

Lessen the responsibility

Directly addresses reducing duties or obligations.

Offer relief

Simple and direct way to express providing help from a burden.

Give a respite

Suggests providing a temporary break or relief.

Make easier

Simplifies the situation or task.

FAQs

How can I use "take the weight off" in a sentence?

You can use "take the weight off" to describe physically relieving pressure (e.g., "take the weight off your feet") or metaphorically reducing burden or responsibility (e.g., "This decision will "take the weight off our shoulders"").

What does "take the weight off" mean?

"Take the weight off" can literally mean to alleviate physical pressure, like sitting down to "take the weight off your legs". It can also metaphorically mean to reduce someone's burden or responsibility.

What can I say instead of "take the weight off"?

Alternatives to "take the weight off" include "lighten the load", "reduce the pressure", or "alleviate the burden" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "take the weight off of"?

While "take the weight off" is more common and generally preferred, "take the weight off of" is also grammatically acceptable, though it can sound slightly more formal or emphatic.