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Glite Dictionary
to carry one's weight

to carry one's weight

2 3.6
To do as much work as the others in a group
  • idiom
translation icon : hacer su parte
  • Teamwork is essential, and each member must carry their weight to achieve our common goals.
  • carry your weight here

Examples

  • You haven't had a hit in two months, which means you aren't carrying your weight around here.

    The Available Wife (2020)

  • I mean, you barely carry your weight around here, Dave.

    Prime (2005)

  • It's a team sport, and in my opinion, Alex hasn't carried his weight the last 2 weeks.

    Blog text (8)

  • And I'm gonna be introducing three new shows in the coming months: The Parent Game, The Game Game, and the Dollar Ninety-Eight Beauty Pageant, so we're gonna really need you guys to carry your weight.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • In a successful project, everyone needs to carry their weight to ensure all tasks are completed on time.

  • If you want to stay on the team, you must carry your weight and contribute just as much as everyone else.

Synonyms

to pitch in
vsto carry one's weight
58 3.3

Join others to give work, help, or money for a shared task

stresses doing an equal share rather than simply joining in help
to pull one's weight
vsto carry one's weight
  • Informal
20 3.9

To do your fair share of work in a group

is the same meaning but uses a different common phrasing
to keep one's end up
vsto carry one's weight
  • UK
1 7.4

Continue doing your part for the team when things are hard

focuses on equal contribution rather than just persistence in hardship
to play one's part
vsto carry one's weight
3.9

Do your share of the work to help a group

emphasizes equal contribution rather than just fulfilling assigned duties
to keep one's shoulder to the wheel
vsto carry one's weight
  • Informal
7.7

To work hard and continue when things are difficult

is about fair equal contribution rather than only intense personal effort

Antonyms

to shirk
19 6.3

To avoid doing work because it is hard or unpleasant

How Helpful

to carry the ball
  • Informal
2 4.6
to carry one's weight
2 3.6
to help out
  • Informal
486 1.0
to do nothing
888 1.5

Surface Forms

carry one's weight infinitive
carried one's weight past
carried one's weight past participle
carrying one's weight present participle
carries one's weight third person singular

Morphology

carry + one + weight

The phrase builds on the literal meanings of 'carry' and 'weight' (bear a load) and the possessive 'one's', so a learner can plausibly map this physical image onto responsibility and contribution. However, the shift from physical carrying to the social/participatory sense ('do your fair share') is metaphorical and may not be fully predictable without exposure, so it is only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The phrase carry one's weight comes from the simple image of people carrying a heavy load together: each person must carry their own weight so the load moves. If someone does not, the others must work harder, so today it means 'to do your fair share'.