What Does โWeigh sth against sthโ Mean?
โWeigh sth against sthโ means to compare two things carefully, considering their advantages and disadvantages before making a decision.
Introduction
The phrase โWeigh sth against sthโ is commonly used when someone needs to make a decision by comparing different options or factors. It involves looking at the positives and negatives of each choice to decide which is better or more important. Understanding the Weigh sth against sth meaning helps learners express thoughtful comparisons clearly and effectively. This phrase is useful in everyday conversations, business, and academic contexts where decisions are based on careful consideration.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: weigh something against something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To compare two things to decide which is better or more important
Structure (Grammar Rules)
The phrasal verb weigh sth against sth is inseparable. You cannot place the object between โweighโ and โagainst.โ The full object phrase always comes after โagainst.โ
Patterns:
- Weigh something against something else
- Weigh the benefits against the risks
- Weigh the pros and cons against each other
How to Use Weigh sth against sth?
Use this phrasal verb when you want to express careful comparison. It is helpful when discussing decisions, evaluations, or choices. For example, you can weigh the costs against the benefits before buying a new car. It is often used in formal and informal situations to show consideration of different factors.
Examples
Before making a decision, it is important to weigh all options carefully.
- She weighed the advantages against the disadvantages before accepting the job offer.
- We need to weigh the risks against the potential rewards of this investment.
- He weighed the time required against the benefits of learning a new skill.
- When buying a house, itโs wise to weigh the price against the location.
- The committee weighed the evidence against the suspectโs explanation.
These examples show how to use Weigh sth against sth in a sentence naturally.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the order or try to separate the phrasal verb incorrectly.
- Incorrect: Weigh against the costs the benefits.
- Correct: Weigh the benefits against the costs.
- Incorrect: Weigh the benefits and costs against.
- Correct: Weigh the benefits against the costs.
Remember, the phrase is inseparable, and the object after โweighโ must come before โagainst.โ
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include โcompareโ and โbalance.โ
- Compare: To examine similarities and differences but without the strong focus on decision-making.
- Balance: To consider two things in order to reach a fair decision, often implying equal importance.
Weigh sth against sth specifically emphasizes the process of measuring pros and cons before deciding.
Common Collocations
You will often hear โweighโ used with certain objects when using this phrasal verb.
- Benefits: Positive effects or advantages
- Costs: Expenses or disadvantages
- Risks: Potential problems or dangers
- Pros and cons: Advantages and disadvantages
- Evidence: Facts or information supporting a conclusion
These collocations help you use the phrase naturally.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of weigh sth against sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation where two friends discuss a decision:
Anna: Iโm not sure if I should accept the job offer in another city.
Ben: Have you weighed the benefits against the challenges?
Anna: Yes, the salary is better, but Iโll miss my family.
Ben: Itโs good youโre weighing everything carefully before deciding.
Practice
Try to complete the sentence using the correct phrase:
- Before buying a new phone, you should ______ the price ______ the features.
- She ______ the risks ______ the rewards before investing.
Answers: weigh / against ; weighed / against
FAQ
- What does โweigh sth against sthโ mean? It means to compare two things carefully before making a decision.
- Is โweigh sth against sthโ separable? No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb.
- Can I use โweighโ without โagainstโ? No, the phrase requires โagainstโ to show comparison.
- What are common objects with this phrasal verb? Benefits, costs, risks, pros and cons, and evidence.
- Is this phrase formal or informal? It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
