heavy lifting

[hev-ee lif-ting]

noun

Informal.

1. hard work.

   A team of researchers did the heavy lifting for the author.

Word History and Origins

Origin of heavy lifting¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

But in politics, as with his construction work, 2026 is going to involve heavy lifting.

Read more on Barron's

I think she was trying to signal there will be no intellectual heavy lifting, but do readers need that warning?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As stressful as this may be, hand over all the documents to your lawyer and allow them to do the heavy lifting and communicate with your brother directly.

Read more on MarketWatch

If only Chenoweth’s dazzling star power didn’t have to do so much of the heavy lifting.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When it comes to destroying Venezuelan prosperity, Hugo Chávez and Maduro did most of the heavy lifting.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal