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Region: General | Usage example: She did the heavy lifting for the presentation.

Heavy lifting

Meaning

Hard, important work.

Usage

Used when highlighting the tough contributions.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Weight-bearing tasks in manual labor.

Used in business to describe substantial effort.

Related Idioms

Heavy hitter

A person with significant influence.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

Crack the whip

Use authority to ensure discipline or faster work.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.

Barking up the wrong tree

Accusing or pursuing the wrong person/idea; making a false assumption.