dead weight

American  

Or deadweight

noun

1. the heavy, unrelieved weight of anything inert.

   The dead weight of the bear's body was over 300 pounds.

2. a heavy or oppressive burden or responsibility.

3. the weight of a railroad car, truck, etc., as distinct from its load or contents.

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dead weight British  

noun

1. a heavy weight or load

2. an oppressive burden; encumbrance

3. the difference between the loaded and the unloaded weights of a ship

4. another name for dead load

5. (in shipping) freight chargeable by weight rather than by bulk

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dead weight Idioms  

1. A heavy or oppressive burden, as in That police record will be a dead weight on his career. This term alludes to the unrelieved weight of an inert mass. [Early 1700s]

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Etymology

Origin of dead weight

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

“A lot of people are dead weight, too,” she added, asserting that the upcoming year will be about taking care of herself.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2023

Misguided, opinionated labor is dead weight; the high-up leaders know best, which is why they’ve earned the positions they have to begin with.

From Slate • Sep. 14, 2023

Perpetual litigation also creates significant "dead weight" in attorneys' fees and court costs, Katyal said.

From Reuters • Sep. 20, 2022

If your torso, hips and lower body are rigid, it makes it a lot easier to lift them than if they’re dead weight.

From New York Times • Mar. 8, 2022

It felt like the old donkey had gone slack and left the entirety of his dead weight for me to drag.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Related Words

• barrier
• bottleneck
• burden
• defect
• deterrent
• difficulty
• disadvantage
• drawback
• flaw
• handicap
• hazard
• hitch
• hurdle
• inhibition
• obstacle
• red tape
• restriction
• setback
• snag
• stumbling block