Differences between weigh down and weigh down on

Weigh down means to make something heavy or to burden someone with a heavy load, while weigh down on means to cause someone to feel heavy or oppressed emotionally or mentally.

Meanings and Definitions: weigh down vs weigh down on

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Weigh down

1To make someone feel burdened or heavy.
Duplicates of applications and identification papers weigh down my hands.
2To burden or make someone feel heavy or tired.
If you weigh yourself down you’ll get very tired.
3To burden or make someone feel heavy or overwhelmed.
The waiters were weighed down by huge trays of food.

Weigh down on

1Burden with responsibilities, duties, etc.
The requirements of her new job WEIGHED DOWN ON her.

Usage Examples: weigh down, weigh down on in Sentences

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weigh down

Example

The heavy backpack weighs down the hiker.

Example

The responsibility weighs her down every day.

weigh down on

Example

The pressure of the exams is weighing down on the students.

Example

The responsibility of caring for her sick mother weighs down on her.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Weigh down

burden with

To give someone a heavy load or responsibility that is difficult to bear.

Example

The company's financial troubles burdened him with the task of laying off employees.

add weight to

To increase the heaviness of something by adding more weight or pressure.

Example

She decided to add weight to her workout routine by incorporating more strength training exercises.

drag down

To lower someone's mood or energy level by causing them to feel sad or discouraged.

Example

Her negative attitude was starting to drag down the rest of the team.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Weigh down on

bear heavily on

To cause someone to feel oppressed or burdened emotionally or mentally.

Example

The stress of the pandemic was bearing heavily on her mental health.

press down on

To cause someone to feel weighed down or oppressed by a heavy emotional or mental burden.

Example

The guilt of his past mistakes was pressing down on him and affecting his relationships.

hang over

To cause someone to feel burdened or oppressed by a heavy emotional or mental weight.

Example

The memory of her father's death still hung over her and affected her daily life.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “weigh”

Phrasal Verbs with “down”

Phrasal Verbs with “down on”

Differences in weigh down vs weigh down on: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: weigh down or weigh down on?

In daily conversation, people use weigh down more often than weigh down on. This is because weigh down is used for more physical tasks and routines such as carrying heavy objects or adding weight to something. Weigh down on is not used as much. It's mainly used when we're talking about emotional or mental burdens. So, while both phrases are used, weigh down is more common in everyday conversation.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of weigh down and weigh down on

Weigh down and weigh down on are informal phrases often used in casual conversations. They are suitable for everyday interactions with friends and family. In more formal settings like business or academic contexts, using alternative expressions can convey a more polished tone.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of weigh down and weigh down on

The tone of weigh down and weigh down on can differ based on context. Weigh down often carries a physical or practical tone when related to adding weight or burden, while weigh down on typically has an emotional or mental tone, especially when referring to feeling oppressed or overwhelmed.

weigh down & weigh down on: Synonyms and Antonyms

Weigh down

Synonyms

Antonyms

Weigh down on

Synonyms

Antonyms