What Does “Weigh on sth” Mean?
“Weigh on sth” means to cause worry, stress, or a heavy feeling about something, often emotionally or mentally.
Introduction
The phrase “Weigh on sth” is a common phrasal verb used to describe feelings of pressure or burden. When something “weighs on” a person, it means it causes them to feel troubled or stressed. Understanding the Weigh on sth meaning helps learners express emotions related to worry or stress clearly. This phrase is useful in both casual and formal conversations, making it important for English learners to know how to use it correctly. You will often hear it when people talk about difficult decisions, sadness, or ongoing problems that affect their mood or thoughts.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: weigh on something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to cause worry or stress
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Weigh on sth” is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning you cannot put the object between “weigh” and “on.”
Correct structure: weigh + on + something
Example: The problem weighs on my mind.
Incorrect: weigh the problem on my mind.
How to Use Weigh on sth?
Use “weigh on sth” when you want to talk about something that causes emotional or mental burden. It often refers to feelings like worry, guilt, or sadness. You can use it in various tenses depending on the time frame.
- Present: It weighs on me.
- Past: It weighed on her conscience.
- Continuous: It is weighing on him lately.
Examples
Here are some examples of Weigh on sth in a sentence:
- The decision to move abroad really weighs on her.
- Financial problems have been weighing on him for months.
- The guilt of lying weighed on his heart.
- These worries weigh on me every day.
- Her past mistakes still weigh on her mind.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the structure or use the wrong preposition. Here’s how to avoid mistakes:
- Incorrect: The problem weighs my mind.
- Correct: The problem weighs on my mind.
- Incorrect: It is weighing with me.
- Correct: It is weighing on me.
Differences / Synonyms
“Weigh on sth” is similar to phrases like “bear down on,” “press on,” or “get to someone,” but it specifically refers to emotional or mental stress. For example:
- Weigh on: emotional burden (e.g., guilt weighs on her)
- Bear down on: pressure or force (e.g., deadlines bear down on us)
- Get to someone: emotionally affect (e.g., the criticism really got to him)
Use “weigh on” when talking about ongoing mental or emotional pressure.
Common Collocations
Some common words that often follow “weigh on” include:
- mind – to think about something that causes worry
- conscience – feeling guilty
- heart – emotional burden
- thoughts – persistent worries
- responsibility – feeling burdened by duty
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of weigh on sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Listen to this short conversation using “weigh on sth”:
Anna: You look worried. Is something weighing on your mind?
Ben: Yes, I’ve been thinking about the upcoming exam all day. It really weighs on me.
Anna: I understand. Just try to relax and prepare step by step.
Practice
Complete the sentences by filling in the blanks with the correct form of “weigh on sth”:
- The secret he kept for years _______ on his conscience.
- Financial difficulties have been _______ on her lately.
- Don’t let worries _______ your mind too much.
FAQ
- What does “weigh on sth” mean? It means to cause someone to feel worried or stressed.
- Is “weigh on sth” separable? No, it is inseparable. The object always comes after “on.”
- Can “weigh on sth” be used in past tense? Yes, for example, “It weighed on her conscience.”
- What are common objects used with “weigh on”? Mind, conscience, heart, thoughts, responsibility.
- Is “weigh on” formal or informal? It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
